POLLING STATIONS FOR CROATIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OPENED

ZAGREB, June 15 (Hina) - Polling stations at which Croatian citizens will at direct election vote for the president of the Republic of Croatia for the second time after the establishment of the independent state were opened at 07.00 hours on Sunday. A total of 7,558 polling stations have been opened in Croatia and abroad. In Croatia there are 6,492 regular polling stations, 131 mixed polling stations (for soldiers, sailors and convicts), 592 polling stations for Croatian displaced persons, and 144 polling stations in UNTAES-administered eastern Croatia. 158 polling stations have been opened for Croatian citizens who have permanent or temporary residence abroad or who today find themselves out of Croatia. According to data of the Croatian Election Commission, there is a total of 4.060,312 eligible voters (registered on voter lists): 3.682,607 in Croatia and 377,705 abroad. Voters will vote on white ballots containing the names of the presidential candidates in alphabetical order (Vladimir Gotovac, Zdravko Tomac, Franjo Tudjman), followed by the name of the party, or parties, which registered them as candidates. The president of Croatia is elected by an absolute majority of the vote (at least 50 percent plus one vote out of the total number of voters who have voted). If none of the candidate gets such majority, the election is repeated within 14 days for the two candidates who got most votes. Today's election is followed by numerous domestic and foreign observers, including about 150 observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, headed by OSCE's special coordinator for the monitoring of the Croatian presidential election, Paul Simon. Polling stations will be open until 19.00 hours. The Croatian Election Commission will report on the electoral turnout throughout the day, while the first, incomplete and unofficial results will be made known half an hour after midnight. (hina) ha jn 151022 MET jun 97