Crimean status referendum: March 16, 2014

[Tender Branson]

Turnout at 5pm local time was ca. 70%

http://referendum2014.ru/news/na-17-00-yavka-sostavila-70.html

Polls are open until 8pm.

So, probably 75-80% turnout (which is to be expected in these kinds of referendums).

[Tender Branson]

Look here for info and results (First exit polls at 20pm local time, results at 22.30pm):

http://en.c-inform.info

BTW: Fabrizio Bertot, a member of the European Parliament from the EPP (Conservatives), who observes the elections in Crimea, told media that the election looks like elections in Italy and that he has seen no irregularities.

(some Western media outfits have reported on the glass boxes where voters throw their ballots into as being "not fair").

I don't see much of a problem with this, because people can vote in voting booths, then fold their ballots once or twice and nobody sees who they voted.

[Tender Branson]

How likely is it that a good deal of ballot stuffing explains some of this high turnout?

Unlikely, I think that it's more the "excitement" of the ethnical Russians in Crimea that drives them to the polls.

[Tender Branson]

My prediction:

Voting option A) 69.1% (+/- 3%)
Voting option B) 30.9%

Turnout: 78% (+/- 3%)

[Tender Branson]

Some pictures from the BBC:





http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26598832

There's probably not even the slightest need to rig this or stuff ballots, if the Russians flock to the polls and well, you know how they will vote ...

[Tender Branson]

Turnout at 6pm was 73.4%

http://www.c-inform.info/news/id/723

1.122.999 people have voted so far.

[Tender Branson]

Exit Poll:

93% for voting option A ("Re-unification with Russia")
  7% for voting option B

Turnout passed 80%.