By the noon lunch break, only about 30 percent of the 790,000 registered voters had cast their ballots, but after mid-afternoon families and young people began returning to cities and towns to cast their votes for their three favourite candidates in each of the 20 constituencies. The final turnout could run between 60 and 70 percent but election officials are sealed away from public view and no accurate forecast could be obtained. This is the first election held on a weekday, giving the laid back Mauritians a long weekend to spend at their famous beaches.
Streets are quiet.
There have been no reports of any disturbances as the results of shortest campaign in Mauritian history will soon be known. Exactly one-month ago today on August 11, Prime Minister Nevin Ramgoolam, dissolved parliament as is his constitutional right, are called for voting Sept. 11. The polling booths in each constituency are carefully guarded by police, high fences surround the schools and no unauthorized persons are allowed within 200 m of the polling station. Voters move in and out quickly and the efficiency of polling officials is highly praised by all political parties. When the voting ended at 6 p.m., the transparent ballot boxes, official papers and lists are taken under armed security to a central point in each of the constituencies, along with the polling officials, party agents and candidates if they wish.