VOTER TURN OUT INCREASED TO TWO HUNDRED FORTY SIX THOUSAND

(May 14th, 2006 No. 93)

The Deputy Supervisor of Elections, Semi Matalau, revealed yesterday that the provisional voter turnout at various polling stations around the country had increased to 246,134.

From day one he said, there were 31,571 voter turn out, day two 245,241, day three had 48,868 voters, day four 53,189 voters, day five 28,888 voters and day six 27,665 voters.

As of yesterday, Mr Matalau said voter turn out figure was 246,934 which was approximately fifty two percent of registered voters.

The Deputy Supervisor said they definitely expect to surpass the 60 percent mark as far as voter turnout is concerned and also revealed that the 246,034 figure for voter turnout is only from 66% of the total number of polling stations as more figures are expected to come in.

He also said that all the ballot boxes will be transported to the four counting centers and the verification of the postal ballots will also be carried out tomorrow to ensure the counting process can get underway at 8am on Monday morning.

“Sunday will be used to transport the ballot boxes from respective from Returning Officers, the movement of ballot boxes from the West to the Central/Eastern divisions and from the four Viti Levu divisions to the Northern divisions and then again Viti Levu from the North.

“Returning Officers will undertake the task of verification of postal ballot papers where the presence of election officials, candidates, party agents or candidate’s agents are verified against the voters signature on the ballot papers counterfoil,” he said.

Mr Matalau stressed that the count is not a race.

“Accuracy is vital in this process. I will personally see that officials get it right and take their time then be the first to finish and then get it wrong later.”

Mr Matalau said that they expect all the results to be released by Wednesday.

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