Local elections in Sabratha

By Ashraf Abdul Wahab.

Tripoli, 6 October:

Voters headed back to the polls in Sabratha today, Saturday, to elect a local council. Polling . . .[restrict]stations opened at 8 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. this evening. Fifteen seats, representing five districts, are being contested.

Voting is “very weak” said one polling station volunteer this morning, stating that most voting stations were almost empty. “Maybe by this evening it will be better”, he added.

A low turnout had been expected.

Registration for the vote was disappointing largely because many potential voters believed that having registered for the Congress elections in June they would not need to do so again. Only 35 percent of potential Sabratha voters are reported to have re-registered.

The other reason for an anticipated low turnout is that the voters say they know next to nothing about the candidates. There have been complaints that there has been very limited campaigning and very few posters. “We’re sorry for the lack of a campaign”, one of the candidates was reported was saying in response. [/restrict]