Warrap state wraps up voting process with over 91.8% turn out

January 15, 2011 (ABYEI) – With polling for southern Sudan’s referendum closing on Saturday officials from Warrap State, say that 91.8% of registered voters cast their ballot during the week-long plebiscite. Both local and international monitors describing the exercise as peaceful and orderly.

Polls have closed everywhere apart from some parts of Australia where voting has been extended due to flooding.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Kuajok, the capital of Warrap State, Makuc Makuc Ngongdit, Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in the state, described the exercise to have been one of the most peaceful events ever carried out in the state.

“I have never seen conduct of such an interesting event. Unlike the last April elections, the voting process in the referendum was one of the most peaceful and desirous event. Everybody was ever happy and eager to be the first to cast his/her vote,” described Makuc.

Makuc, who holds additional assignment as political advisor to the state governor, Madam Nyandeng Malek Deliech, said has reports which indicate that 91.8% of the legible voters have cast their votes.

“So far, we have reports indicating that 91.8% of our people who registered during the registration processes have cast their votes. And because everybody was eager to vote during the first day of voting process, I can confirm to you that, from Thursday 13, we have received in our operation room encouraging reports that up to 91.8% have voted,” he said.

The senior government official said he has reports which show almost more than half of the registered voters cast their votes in the first three days and that some centers finished voting within the first days of the voting process.

“I can assure you some centers quickly managed to finish within the first days of the beginning of the voting process. The centers which finished in the first days included Ajak Kuac, Agok and Pandit amuol in Twic County.”

“In Kuac, referring to areas under Kuacjok, the capital of Warrap State, Wunkuel and Mabior Atuet, were the first centers to announce completion of the voting process. They all received 100% turn out. All the registered turned out in the first three days. Nobody was left,” he said.

Gai Deng Nhial, chairperson of the referendum high committee in the state, also in an interview with Sudan Tribune commended the citizens of Warrap state for a massive turning out during the first days of voting.

The top referendum official in the state said polling ended with the receipt of 95.9% turn out of eligible registered voters from some centers.

“As at the moment, the reports we have shows that the voting process in the state stands at 95.9%. This is the report from the centers we have received their reports. The current percentage will increase to applausive percentage once the remaining reports are received,” said Nhial.

The official said they had managed to overcome few the challenges that arouse during the voting processes.

“Yes, there were challenges but they were overcome. Our problem was the transport but the referendum task force with assistance from youth groups intervened. The referendum task force and youth groups played important role. They moved voting materials and helped in the transportation of vulnerable groups to the voting centers,” he said.

Nhial said that polling centers had not experienced any insecurity. “The event was one of the most peaceful and covered event. It finished peacefully. There were no incidents of insecurity throughout during the voting processes. It started quiet and finished quietly. There were no issues of cattle raiders because cattle raiders themselves were also taking part in the voting processes,” he said.

Warrap is not the only state to record a high turnout. Eastern Equatoria and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states have also recorded voter turnout of over 90%.

The 60% quorum of registered voters was reached after just three days of polling in Southern Sudan according to the referendum commission. A 50% plus 1 vote in favor of either unity or separation in needed for a result.

When the final results are announced in Khartoum on February 14, a result in favor of separation is the widely expected outcome.

(ST)