TURNOUT OF CROATS AT POLLS IN NORTH AMERICA BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Hina) - A turnout of Croatian citizens at the polling stations opened in the United States and Canada for the Croatian parliamentary election is beyond all expectations, said staff in Croatia's embassies and consulates in these two north American countries. Croatian expatriates can vote on Sunday and Monday to elect their representatives to the Sabor House of Representatives. At the polling stations opened at the embassies in Washington D.C and Ottawa and consulates in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York and Mississauga over 3,000 people cast their ballots by 16.00 hours Central European time. It was beyond expectations but the voting was proceeding without difficulties. The largest turnout was registered with Croats in the Toronto area, and 1214 of them went to the polls organised at the Croatian Consulate-General in Mississauga on Sunday, while about 250 voters cast their ballots there on Monday morning. The Embassy in Ottawa reported some 180 voters on Sunday, and most of them came from Montreal. Of five polling stations in the United States, on Sunday the largest turnout was registered in New York where 424 Croatian citizens cast their ballots or twice more than at the previous election organised in this consulate. Regarding the fact that the polling stations in North America are in three different time zones, the last polling station to be closed is in Los Angeles. It should be closed at 04.00 am Tuesday Central European time. (hina) mm ms