Low voter turnout predicted

13 February 2011 09:05 am - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Election monitors today predicted that the voter turnout at the upcoming Local Government elections will be lower than usual due to the recent floods and the peoples mistrust in the election process.

Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director, Rohana Hettiarachchi said that the voter turn out during local government elections which is normally lower than that of the national and provincial elections, generally varies between 55%-65%. He said however that the numbers will fall further this year.

“In the last local government elections in 2006 the voter turn out was 54%. In the coming elections we expect these numbers will fall well below 50%,” Hettiarachchi said. He said that one of the major reasons for a possible reduction in the voter turn out is due to the floods which he said will have a vast affect on the elections.

The Center for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) Coordinator, M.H.M Ajmeer said that the voter turnout will be low unless the political parties competing at the upcoming elections take necessary measures to encourage them to vote. He said that the message to vote should be sent out to people including those in flood affected areas if the voter turnout is to be increased. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

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Comments - 16

Lion Sunday, 13 February 2011 09:11 AM

I think there would be a high turnout if the process was improved to count the ballots in the voting halls itself!

Somarathne Sunday, 13 February 2011 09:18 AM

the Elections department must improve the voting process to bring back the confidence in the people that their views are reflected in the final outcome.

Wara Sunday, 13 February 2011 09:21 AM

First remove that Election Commissioner,who takes back his words! then we will vote

meranchi Sunday, 13 February 2011 09:22 AM

Don't worry some body will vote for them...

asoka abeywardena Sunday, 13 February 2011 09:30 AM

People don't trust Dayananda Dissanayake any more, that's it.

JUNIOR CITIZEN Sunday, 13 February 2011 09:34 AM

how can we trust these politicians who promise us the sun & the moon and then deliver nothing?

Mithraka Fernando Sunday, 13 February 2011 09:41 AM

how can they predict now itself? that means they have already decided who can vote and who will too!!

Buruwa Sunday, 13 February 2011 09:42 AM

also due to the obvious reason,loss of confidence in elections in SriLanka

gul Fernando Sunday, 13 February 2011 10:16 AM

why should we vote for candidates who cant fill up their nominations form properly?????

Shyamali Sunday, 13 February 2011 10:17 AM

Miracle of Asia!

I Hussein Sunday, 13 February 2011 11:29 AM

I reckon that there will be a high turnout.
People begining to feel that they need a change.

menna Pora Sunday, 13 February 2011 12:32 PM

Good News for the Mr. Computer GILMART.

rajiv Sunday, 13 February 2011 02:58 PM

voter turn out will be low but percentage of total polled will be high due to rigging

Siri Sunday, 13 February 2011 03:21 PM

Wishful thinking! 30 yrs. is more like it. Like a monkey chopping its tail through ignorance, people sleepwalked and self-inflicted their destiny in 2010.

Wara Monday, 14 February 2011 04:22 AM

Everybody knows LG election come with low turnout. Nobody need to preditct.

I Hussein Monday, 14 February 2011 07:13 PM

This news is another delibarate govt blunder to discourage the oppostion votes.

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Low voter turnout predicted

Comments - 16

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