ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - The second round of Croatia's presidential election began at 7 a.m. on Monday. Voters will choose between Stipe Mesic and Drazen Budisa, the two candidates who won most of the vote at the first electoral round
on January 24. About 4.2 million Croatian citizens may exercise their right to vote at 7,038 polling stations between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The first unofficial results will be made known by the National Electoral Commission shortly after midnight. Data on the electoral turnout will be released throughout the day. In Croatia there are some 3.8 million eligible voters, who may exercise their right to cast the ballot at about 6,900 polling stations, of which 6,477 are regular ones. Members of the armed force, prisoners, and seamen may vote at 102 polling stations, Croatian displaced persons at 300, while voters without Croatian residence may cast their ballot at 18 polling stations
ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - The second round of Croatia's presidential
election began at 7 a.m. on Monday. Voters will choose between Stipe
Mesic and Drazen Budisa, the two candidates who won most of the vote
at the first electoral round on January 24.
About 4.2 million Croatian citizens may exercise their right to
vote at 7,038 polling stations between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The first unofficial results will be made known by the National
Electoral Commission shortly after midnight. Data on the electoral
turnout will be released throughout the day.
In Croatia there are some 3.8 million eligible voters, who may
exercise their right to cast the ballot at about 6,900 polling
stations, of which 6,477 are regular ones. Members of the armed
force, prisoners, and seamen may vote at 102 polling stations,
Croatian displaced persons at 300, while voters without Croatian
residence may cast their ballot at 18 polling stations.
Croatia's Diaspora has a total of 360,423 eligible voters who may
cast heir ballot at 141 polling station in 48 countries, including
24 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 20 in Australia, and 18 in Germany.
Polling stations abroad are open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local
time.
Implementing the presidential election are some 43,000 members on
voters' committees and electoral commissions, whose work is
monitored by about 5,000 observers from seven domestic non-
governmental organisations. There are also some 400 foreign
observers, mainly from the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe.
The first presidential poll on January 24 saw the highest number of
candidates, nine, running for office since Croatia achieved
independence. This year's election is the third presidential poll;
the previous two, in August 1992 and June 1997, were both won by late
president Franjo Tudjman.
(hina) ha