600 VOTERS BY MIDDAY AT LABASA COLLEGE

(May 11th, 2006 No. 82)

Close to 600 voters had cast their votes by midday at the Labasa College polling station.

Presiding officers of the three polling teams at Labasa College who spoke to information officers at the north media centre said that voter turnout had steadily increased since polling began at 8am.

“Here the voting has just been flowing since morning. People have just been coming in and we expect this to keep up until the end of the day,” said team two presiding officer, Tikiko Tikomaiwiriwiri.

He said that people who lived in neighbouring areas where polling had ended could cast there votes at Labasa College if they had missed out.

“People who reside in areas already covered by our polling teams but work in Labasa town can also vote here.”

He said there were no major hiccups except for a case of a missing name, but the person was allowed to vote.

Team three presiding officer, Suliasi Tawake said that like team two, roughly 200 voters had turned up to cast their votes and that by end of the day, their team was expecting 300 to 400 people to have cast their votes.

“There haven’t been many elderly people, quite a few young people and a good balance of Fijians, Indians and some general voters but still no Rotumans,” Mr Tawake said.

However, team four presiding officer, Rajendra Raj said that only 175 people had cast their votes.

“But I’m sure it will get hectic towards the end of polling, more voters will turn up,” Mr Raj said.

Meanwhile more than 50 polling stations were opened today in the north, with 23 in Bua, 13 in Macuata and 20 in Cakaudrove.

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