Vote turnout countrywide as of noon, GMT: 19.84pc

The vote turnout countrywide in today’s parliamentary election was 19.84 percent as of noon, GMT, according to data released by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC).

BEC spokesman Marian Muhulet said the turnout in the urban areas was 18.02 percent, while in the rural area it stood at 22.34 percent.

He also said the turnout in 19 counties was above the national average. First came in Teleorman County, where seven hours into the election, 28.08 percent of the voters had cast their ballots. Following next were Vrancea County (25.56 percent); Ilfov County (25.04 percent), Neamt County (24.97 percent) and Dambovita County (24.89 percent), and the counties of Dolj (23.80 percent), Giurgiu (23.78 percent), Constanta (23.76 percent), Mehedinti (23.22 percent), Olt (22.67 percent), Buzau (22.65 percent), Valcea (22.65 percent), Gorj (21.77 percent), Bacau (21.38 percent), Botosani (21.81 percent), Hunedoara (21.10 percent), Vaslui (20.33 percent), Braila (20.18 percent), Suceava (20.07 percent), Mures (19.78 percent), Galati (19.68 percent), Bihor (19.64 percent), Ialomita (19.56 percent), Prahova (19.46 percent), Salaj (19.39 percent), Arges (19.32 percent), Harghita (19.23 percent), Iasi (19.03 percent), Brasov (18.70 percent), Calarasi (18.69 percent), Tulcea (10.05 percent), Cluj (17.79 percent), Alba (17.38 percent), Satu Mare (17.30 percent), Caras Severin (17.24 percent), Bistrita-Nasaud (16.87 percent) and the county of Maramures (16.52 percent).

According to the data released by the BEC, the lowest vote turnout as of noon was recorded in the county of Timis (14.11 percent). Also low in terms of the vote turnout were the counties of Covasna (14.99 percent), Arad (15.26 percent), Sibiu (15.62 percent) and Maramures (16,52 percent).

By percentage of the urban vote turnout, the highest rate was recorded in Dambovita County (25,60 percent), while Covasna Couty was at the opposite end, with 12.46 percent. By percentage of the rural vote turnout, Teleorman County came in first, with cu 32.23 percent; bringing up the rear was Arad County (15.17 percent).

As much as 15.85 percent of the Bucharest voters tuned out to vote by noon, GMT, with the highest turnout rate, of 18.63 percent, being recorded in District 2, and the lowest, of 13.46 percent, in District 3.

The next turnout estimates are expected out at 17:30 GMT.

More than 18 million Romanians are expected today to cast ballots in the parliamentary election. Under Law 35/2008 regarding the election to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, voting should be allowed conditional on voters producing their identity cards, but not voter’s cards.

The last polling stations close at 19:00 GMT. AGERPRES