GOOD VOTER TURNOUT EXPECTED FOR THIS YEAR

(May 13th, 2006 No. 90)

The Office of the Supervisor of Elections, expects a good number of voter turnout this year as compared to the 2001 general election.

Supervisor of Elections, Semesa Karavaki yesterday said that about over 70% of the voters registered in 2001 did not cast their votes and the target this year is to exceed this.

Voting around the country has progressed relatively, he said because numbers are still coming from remote or rural polling stations. He added it is encouraging to see that people are coming in numbers to cast their votes this year.

After the fourth and fifth day of polling, Mr Karavaki said voter turn out has only been recorded from 121 polling stations and still 65 polling stations are left.

“But as yesterday we have received a provisional figure voter turn out for Eastern division which is 7,044 and Central 99,441, Northern 36,664 and Western 74,120.

“So a total of about 217,269 that again the figure is provisional includes parts of the numbers of polling that was done yesterday (5th day) that is about 35% of the total voter registered for this year’s general elections.

“And again we can see the figures improving steadily. I think I had said from the beginning that we have a consistent improvement in voter turn out from day one which was 31,571, day two moved up further to 45,241, day three moved up to 48,868, day four – 53,189.”

The number he said is consistently improving he is confident and positive that numbers for Day five will be much higher than the 53,000 we had for Day four.

“And it will be likewise for day six and day seven. I am quite positive that we will exceed the number of voter turnout compared with 2001.”

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