Algeria-SANA
The polls for the municipal and state popular council elections in Algeria were closed tonight, with a turnout of about 36 percent.
The Algerian News Agency quoted the head of the Independent National Electoral Authority, Mohamed Sharafi, as saying in a press conference this evening that the number of voters for members of the municipal people’s councils reached 8,517,919 when the polling stations closed, i.e. a participation rate of 35.97 percent, while the number of voters for members of the wilaya popular councils reached 8,154,226 voters. The participation rate was estimated at 34.39 percent.
Sharafi affirmed that the elections took place in normal circumstances and that no violations were recorded by the voters, with the exception of one case that was presented to the judiciary for adjudication.
When casting his vote, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed his optimism about the high turnout compared to the parliamentary elections, considering that the goal of these elections is to reach legitimate institutions.
Earlier today, the Independent National Electoral Authority issued a decision allowing its local delegates to extend the timing of closing polling stations in some or all municipalities until eight in the evening local time in order to facilitate the exercise of their right to vote.