A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Sunday, October 23, 2011

This Time, "90% Turnout" May Not Be Fantasy

Early reports say that over 90% of registered voters turned out for Tunisia's first genuine competitive elections. Even unregistered voters were allowed to vote. The Arab world is used to "90% turnouts," of course, but this time it may be true. (Those elections also used to go 95% for one party.) With something like 111 parties total (though not all on any single constituency ballot), people really have something to choose from.

The Arabist  reports his impressions on the changed mood of the country.

More as the results become known.

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