The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday confirmed that less than 40% eligible voters exercised their franchise during Friday’s Local Government Elections (LGE).Some 507,584 persons were registered to vote in 542 constituencies across the country, but in the end, only 239,070 persons voted, representing a 47.10% voter turnout.

Of the votes cast, 236,323 were valid with 2,747 of the ballots rejected. The statistics reveal that though the voter turnout was low, the majority of the voters or 98.85% understood how to vote in the Proportional Representation and First-Past-The-Post components of the elections. Only 1.15% of the ballots were rejected.

Cane Grove in Region Four, which has six constituencies, recorded the highest percentage of voter turnout. In that Local Authority Area, 1,556 of the 2,448 voters cast their ballots, representing a 63.56% voter turnout.

According to the statistics provided by GECOM, the Municipality of Linden recorded the lowest voter turnout, with only 35.15% of the 23,880 persons voting. This means that only 8,395 persons voted in that municipality.

Meanwhile, in Region One (Barima-Waini), 5,923 persons were expected to vote in the Local Government Elections but only 2,973 residents cast their ballots between the two Local Authority Areas of Port Kaituma/Matthews Ridge/Arakaka, and the Municipality of Mabaruma.

Port Kaituma/Matthews Ridge/Arakaka recorded a 43.92% turnout with 50 of the 1,478 votes cast rejected. Over in the Municipality of Mabaruma, 2,558 persons were expected to vote but only 1,495 did, representing a 58.44% turnout.

In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), in the Local Authority Areas of Charity/Urasara, Evergreen/Paradise, Municipality of Anna Regina, Aberdeen/ Zorgen-Vlygt, Annadale/ Riverstown and Good Hope/ Pomona 28,646 persons were registered to vote however only 15,532 ballots were cast.

In the municipality of Anna Regina, which had eight constituencies and a voting population of 10,011, only 5,361 persons voted or 53.55%. But of that amount 54 of the ballots were rejected.

In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Wakenaam and Leguan recorded a voter turnout of more than 60% each while the Local Authority Area of Malgre Tout/Meer Zorgren had the lowest turnout in that district.

Some 5,411 persons were expected to vote however only 2,569 persons voted with 43 of the ballots rejected. This represents 47.48% voter turnout.

In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), there are 15 Local Authority Areas stretching from Soesdyke to Cane Grove. Close to 244,000 persons were expected to vote, however only 106,773 persons voted.

In the Municipality of Georgetown, the voter turnout was 37.66% with 42,313 of the 112,364 voting. However, 392 of the ballots were rejected.

Over in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), the 10 Local Authority Areas recorded a voter turnout between 48% and 62.56%.

In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), the Municipality of New Amsterdam recorded a voter turnout of 40%. Approximately 13, 000 voters were listed but only 5,241 exercised their political franchise; however 74 of the ballots were rejected.

In the Municipality of Rose Hall, 3,956 persons were expected to vote but only 1,946 votes were cast of which 27 were rejected. As such, that municipality recorded a 49.19% voter turnout while at the Municipality of Corriverton only 4,486 of the 9,025 of the registered voters voted.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) recorded 49.15% voter turnout, with only 3,397 of the 6,912 voters casting their ballots.

In the Municipality of Lethem, 2,268 persons were registered to vote; however, only 1,142 voted representing a 50.35% voter turnout. Meanwhile in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), 23,880 persons were expected to vote in the Municipality of Linden, but only 8,395 ballots were cast with 116 rejected. Similarly in Kwakwani, 1,894 voters were listed but only 827 ballots were cast 21 of which were rejected.

Though GECOM has release stats on the voter turnout, it is still to announce the official results of the just concluded Local Government Elections (LGE).

However, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is claiming victory in 48 of the 71 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). Speaking at Freedom House on Monday, PPP/C Member of Parliament Ganga Persaud said “the PPP/C received 75 per cent of the total support,” and that “as such, the results are: 48 LAAs were won by the PPP/C, 16 were won by the APNU+AFC, and in seven areas, there were ties.”

He is of the opinion that the results of the LGE ought to be seen as a referendum on the nine-month-old coalition government.  And this, he says, is despite the fact that, like the PPP/C, the coalition has managed to hold on to all of its bases.

The party General Secretary Clement Rohee added: “We mustered up our support base, and could, therefore, boast of winning the most local authority areas.”

However, reports indicate that the coalition won several municipalities including Bartica and Georgetown, along with other Local Authority Areas across the country as well.