As reported in Diario Libre, C?sar Pina Toribio, president of the Executive Committee of the PLD, said that the party was able to move 60% of its registered members to vote in the primary held last Sunday, 29 June. In a list delivered to the civic organization that monitors elections, Participaci?n Ciudadana, the PLD reported 877,109 registered voters.
Pina Toribio pointed out that of these, 493,284 voters, or 56%, cast their ballots.
He compared the ?voto duro?, or firm vote, of the PLD to that of the incumbent PRD, evidenced in their last presidential primary held in 1999. At the time of their presidential primary in 1999, said Pina Toribio, the PRD listed 1,260,684 official members, of which a lesser proportion, or 534,059 voted. The PRD has yet to hold its primary election to choose its presidential candidate for the May 2004 election.
The other leading opposition party, the PRSC, reported 1,454,284 registered members, with only 370,581 casting ballots in their primary held 30 March 2003.
Approximately five million Dominicans will be able to vote in the May 2004 presidential election.