NNA – Metn - Ballot boxes were closed in the northern Metn district, after a long, calm and democratic election day that was void of any significant problems, except for errors in the ballot lists and the lack of knowledge of some poll chiefs and voters with the election law, which led to the slowdown of the electoral process in some centers.

The counting process began in the presence of the representatives of the lists and candidates, while the voting period was extended in some centers to allow voters inside polling stations to cast their votes.

Two hours before the polls closed, the polling stations in Jdeideh and Sin El Fil witnessed a heavy voter turnout, due to the large influx of naturalized people from the Bekaa Valley.

The voter turnout varied from one region to another, as the villages of Upper Metn regions witnessed a high voter turnout reaching 65% in some places while the percentage decreased in the central villages, reaching 48%, to decrease further along the coast, especially in the Burj Hammoud region, where polling stations witnessed a low turnout.

Accordingly, the initial total percentage in the Casa reached 51.3%, similar to a 51% in 2018.

It is to note that discrepancy exists in the voting rates between the parties’ electoral machines.

========R.Sh.