Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Ranks 91 Among 163 Countries on Voter Turnout

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): September 4,
1997 – In a Global Survey by Institute for Democracy and
Electoral Assistance (IDEA) on voter turnout shows the FSM ranks 91
among 163 countries of the world and ranked number seven among the 11
Ocenaia countries surveyed, according to National Election Director’s
letter of August 20, 1997, to President Jacob Nena, copies of which
were sent to Congress Speaker Jack Fritz, State Governors and
Speakers, FSM Chief Justice, and Chairmen of FSM Congressional
Delegations.

IDEA is a global organization that gauge levels of democratic
process and development among countries of the world and one of the
dimensions chosen was the level voter turnout in which it was
reported that the best turnout is in the small Mediterranean island
of Malta, with 96.2 percent voter turnout. Which means that 96.2 out
of 100 registered voters turned out to vote in a given election.

The Republic of Palau with 79.3 percent is in 31st position down
the list of 163 countries surveyed; the FSM with a voter turnout of
63.0 is at 91 position down the list; the United States of America
with 44.1 percent turnout is 139th position down the list and at the
bottom in the 163rd is Mali, a country in Africa with 21.1 percent.

Mallarme says that his office has established contact with IDEA to
take advantage of the available election resources, technical
expertise and know-how and funding sources for election projects in
countries around the world. IDEA is one of the funding sources for
South Pacific Electoral Officials Conference in Suva, Fiji, from
October 8th to the 10th to which National Election Director Mallarme
and Assistant Director Heinrick A. Stevenson were invited to attend.
Their expenses will be absorbed by IDEA and other funding sources for
the conference, marrlarme says. The Australian Electoral Commission
is spearheading this historic conference.