Ivory Coast’s election commission is expected to announce Tuesday the first results from an election that was widely expected to give President Alassane Ouattara another term in office. The commission has already estimated turnout from Sunday’s vote at around 60 percent, though a civil society group put the figure at 53 percent. The opposition National Coalition for Change expressed further doubts about the turnout, saying many Ivorians stayed home and fewer than 20 percent actually voted.
Three opposition candidates pulled out before the vote and alleged irregularities, such as concerns about a voter list they said had many people registered twice. On Sunday, some voting stations had to stay open late after voting materials did not arrive on time and computer tablets used to verify identities malfunctioned.
But international observers, including those from the African Union and the West African bloc ECOWAS, said the voting was free and fair.
Full Article: Results Expected in Ivory Coast Vote.