ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - By 04.00 pm Monday a little more than a half of all registered voters went to the polls to elect Croatia's President. The Croatian National Electoral Commission's head, Marijan Ramuscak, said the turnout was
55.18 percent by that time, adding that figures covered 5,623 polling stations or 87 percent of all of them. The highest turnout was in Zagreb County with 62.79 percent, while the poorest turnout was registered in Vukovar-Sirmium County with 41.53 percent. The deputy head of the Commission, Jakob Miletic, confirmed that all polling stations could not be open on time, at 07.00 am Monday, due to bad weather. By noon, all polling stations were opened and there were no reports on queues at them, Miletic added. The turnout of voters by 04.00 pm at the presidential polls was smaller compared to the recent parliamentary election when some 60 percent of eligible voters
ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - By 04.00 pm Monday a little more than a half
of all registered voters went to the polls to elect Croatia's
President.
The Croatian National Electoral Commission's head, Marijan
Ramuscak, said the turnout was 55.18 percent by that time, adding
that figures covered 5,623 polling stations or 87 percent of all of
them.
The highest turnout was in Zagreb County with 62.79 percent, while
the poorest turnout was registered in Vukovar-Sirmium County with
41.53 percent.
The deputy head of the Commission, Jakob Miletic, confirmed that
all polling stations could not be open on time, at 07.00 am Monday,
due to bad weather. By noon, all polling stations were opened and
there were no reports on queues at them, Miletic added.
The turnout of voters by 04.00 pm at the presidential polls was
smaller compared to the recent parliamentary election when some 60
percent of eligible voters cast their ballots by 04.00 pm (on
January 3). This might be expected partly because of bad weather
conditions and partly because citizens have had enough of
elections, Ramuscak added.
He said some returns from the polls organised outside Croatia about
the turnout of voters were arriving at the Commission. By 01.00 pm
21 percent of voters cast their votes at Croatia's consulate
general in the southern city of Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Commission has received a few complaints, mainly about the
possible violation of the ban on electioneering during the voting.
Activists of the organisation 'Voice 2000' were reported to have
delivered, in three towns, posters and leaflets which suggest that
today's election was the first time for voters to choose in a
democratic manner the head of state.
There was a complaint against one article in the press.
A candidate, Slaven Letica, who is running in the election, lodged a
complaint that there is no doctoral degree before his name on
ballots for voting.
The Commission is to consider complaints this evening.
(hina) ms