Apathy threatens Russia'a run-off polls

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

MOSCOW (JP): As Russian President Boris Yeltsin prepares for next months run-off elections, getting people to vote is becoming as much of a headache as haggling with his political opponents.

While thousands of observers and media representatives gathered to witness the June 16 election, dubbed an event to shape the country's future, millions of Russians seemed to be oblivious to the event.

Of the 107 million eligible voters, only 69 percent turned out for the country's first free presidential election. Earlier surveys had optimistically predicted an 80 to 85 percent turnout.

As the tally became clearer here yesterday, it was obvious that while Yeltsin may have won slightly more votes than his main rival, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, there were even more people who refused to vote at all.

Yeltsin and Zyuganov were the two biggest vote-getters in Sunday's election. Yet neither received a majority and must compete in a run-off scheduled for two weeks from now.

Boris Yeltsin, with his 35 percent of the votes, received just over 26 million votes while Zyuganov, with 32 percent, got about a million less than that.

With a 69 percent turnout, a total of 74 million Russians went to the polls. This means that a large portion of the electorate, about 33 million, did not vote at all.

Yeltsin campaigner, Vyacheslav Nikonov, at a press briefing here yesterday noted that it is important to have a high turnout if Yeltsin is to win in the second round.

"It is important for Yeltsin to push for more than 60 percent of those eligible to vote," he said.

One reason for the low turnout is thought to be the fact that most Russians in urban areas, a large chunk of the electorate, are traditionally away at their dachas (country houses) over the weekend.

Urban voters are seen as those who have benefited most from economic reform and who are therefore most likely to support Yeltsin.

However, in Moscow only 67 percent of voters came to the polling stations.

Despite the fact that Muscovites were given free public transportation for the day, about one-third of the 7.01 million voters in the city did not bother to vote.

The voter turnout was similarly low in the greater Moscow region, which has an electorate base of 5.5 million.

Moscow, the greater Moscow region, and St. Petersburg represent the highest concentration of voters and are a Yeltsin strong-hold. A lower turnout may have cost Yeltsin several million votes.

Media reports here yesterday noted that with just three hours before polling stations were to close, only 44 percent of residents there had voted.

The mayor, in a desperate attempt to cajole voters into doing their bit for democracy, then went on TV to appeal for them to go out and vote.

Television also played a role, as many Russians were captivated by the important European championship football game between the Russian and German national teams.

To prevent the weakening of a strong voter base, Yeltsin has proposed that the second round be held on July 3, a Wednesday, instead of previously touted July 7, which falls on a Sunday.

Vyacheslav Nikonov explained that communist supporters have traditionally been more disciplined in voting and that many Yeltsin sympathizers failed to show up at the polls.

"Our task is to boost the vote," he said, adding gloomily that turnout is generally lower in a second round.