Nhelly Saleh-Ramirez, IFES regional director for the Americas, comments on the Honduran poll:

"Despite the call for boycott, Hondurans flocked to the polls in unexpectedly large numbers. The day started slow but by the afternoon, Hondurans took to the polling stations in large numbers to cast a ballot and decide the future of their country. Preliminary reports indicate that polling was fairly well-organized and peaceful with some isolated reports of voter intimidation. Although the polling stations were scheduled to close at 4:00 pm, the electoral tribunal extended polling by one hour to ensure that all voters in line could cast their ballot. It appears that voter turn-out was one of the highest in the past elections with abstention projected to be below 40%. This Sunday’s voter turn-out is remarkable due to the steadily declining rate of voter participation of the past 10 years. The participation rate of the 2005 elections was at barely 55%.

"At 9:20pm and with 2/3 of the vote counted, the electoral tribunal announced that Profirio Lobo of the National Party had received approximately 56% of the votes and Elvin Santos of Zelaya's Liberal Party was second with 38%. All of the reports this morning indicate that Mr. Lobo won the Presidency. Both of the candidates have said they will recognize the elections since the candidates had been announced and the elections management body was appointed before the coup. A congressional vote is scheduled for this Wednesday, December 2 to decide the future of Mr. Zelaya. If all continues along this track, this election might help put an end to the political standoff that began on June 28, 2009."