AMIDST a heavy downpour, enthusiastic voters showed up in their numbers on Monday morning to cast their ballots for their respective local government candidates in Linden, Region 10.

While voting got off to a late start due to intermittent rainfall and thunderstorms in the township, many braved the weather to get to their polling stations.

One such voter was Nikita Roberts.

Roberts, a People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) candidate, told the Guyana Chronicle that while polling stations were opened promptly at 06:00hrs, the turnout was low. However, she noted that the voting process went smoothly without a hitch.

Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) candidate and former regional chairman, Sharma Solomon, was also among several early-morning voters.

“All in all, notwithstanding the weather it’s very encouraging to see people coming out for local government elections,” Solomon told reporters.

Meanwhile, Shurdun Murray expressed his satisfaction with the turnout he observed at several polling stations in the town.

“We are grateful to see a lot of our community members, a lot of our consistent members coming out to vote in their numbers,” Murray who is also a candidate for the PPP/C said.

First-time voter, 20-year-old Shawn Mallay, told this publication that voting was simple and smooth. The presiding officers, he said, were very helpful as they explained the process to her. She was then able to cast her ballot within a short space of time.

Samuel Sampson, a PPP/C candidate and observer stated that while the voting process was relatively simple, small hiccups were reported at a few polling stations.

Some residents were unable to locate their names on the voters list at some locations and according to Sampson, this was rectified before the close of polls.

“I’ve been visiting a couple voting locations. The process has been moving very smooth in some places, but in some places, it was challenging for persons to find their names. I think we should have a system in place [like] get somebody with a computer so that when someone takes their [Identification Card] they can pull it [their information] up fast,” she said.

Further, several local taxi drivers and vehicle owners came together to take elders and persons with disabilities to and from their polling stations.