MUKAH: Voter turnout for the Balingian by-election was 72.33% when polls closed here, says Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.
A total of 9,668 votes were cast between 8am and 5pm, out of a total of 13,233 registered voters.
The final turnout is lower than the 80% expected by Abdul Aziz, who at noon today had predicted a record high. "Nonetheless, this is still an improvement of 2% for Balingian from the last state election (in 2011)," Abdul Aziz told reporters.
"It's not above 80% as I predicted earlier. This morning, there were 20% of voters every hour. By the third hour, this reduced to about 14% or 15%. But after noon, the percentage dropped to 3%, then 4%, then 2%. It slowed," he said.
Asked why, the election official said rural voters tended to vote early. He also said the school holidays probably had a negative effect on the turnout percentage, which is the opposite of what many had predicted.
"Perhaps families are away from Balingian during the school holidays," Abdul Aziz said.
"The other reason might be a lot didn't come back to vote. Maybe they felt this by-election wasn't going to change the political landscape in Sarawak," Abdul Aziz added.
An official announcement of the results can be expected by 8pm tonight, he told reporters.
There were a total of 21 polling centres today. The highest turnout was recorded at SK Kampung Jebungan with 83.22%. The lowest turnout was at SK Kuala Kenyana with 51%.
Abdul Aziz said no complaints were lodged today.
This by-election is between Barisan Nasional’s Yussibnosh Balo and Pakatan Rakyat's Abdul Jalil Bujang.
Source/Fuente: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/03/29/Balingian-by-election-p...
