TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ The voting process in today’s local by-elections, held in five municipalities—Vlora, Berat, Cërrik, Mat, and Tepelena—closed at 18:00. Following this time, only voters officially registered by the respective polling center commissions will be permitted to vote, as confirmed by the State Election Commissioner.
According to data from the Central Election Commission, overall voter turnout nationwide was 17.89% as of 17:00.
The voting process has generally proceeded smoothly, and the counting of votes is expected to begin after the polling centers close.
In the Municipality of Vlora, as of 17:00, 16,828 citizens had cast their votes out of 140,815 registered voters, across 188 of the 231 reported polling centers, recording a turnout of 11.95%.
In the Municipality of Berat, by 5:00 p.m., in 91 out of 116 reported polling stations, 12,455 voters had exercised their right to vote, representing 18.94% of the voters on the list.
In the Municipality of Cërrik, the process proceeded with 7,986 voters out of 32,686 registered voters, representing a turnout of 24.43%, in 48 out of 57 reported polling stations.
In the Municipality of Mat, voter interest was higher, with 8,146 voters out of 21,004 registered voters by 5:00 p.m., reaching a turnout of 38.78% in 33 out of 47 reported polling stations.
Meanwhile, in the Municipality of Tepelena, by 5:00 p.m., 2,420 voters out of 7,184 registered on the list had cast their votes, in 13 out of 21 reported polling stations.
After the voting process closes, the election materials are expected to be delivered to the CEAZs, and the counting commissions will begin their work, while the preliminary results will be released in the coming hours.
/sm/
