Major General James G. Blunt

Presidential elections were held in the Gambia on 22 September 2006. Incumbent President Yahya Jammeh was re-elected with 67.3% of the vote.[1] Ousainou Darboe, who finished second with 27% of the vote, rejected the official results, saying that the elections had not been free and fair and that there was widespread voter intimidation.[2]

Electoral system

All the 989 polling booths used marbles, which were inserted into candidate drums instead of ballot papers due to the high illiteracy rate. The marble system is only used in Gambia, where it has been used since 1965.[3]

Results

CandidatePartyVotes%
Yahya JammehAlliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction264,40467.33
Ousainou DarboeUnited Democratic Party104,80826.69
Halifa SallahNational Alliance for Democracy and Development23,4735.98
Total392,685100.00
Registered voters/turnout670,336
Source: Adam Carr

References

  1. ^ Gambian president is re-elected BBC News, 23 September 2006
  2. ^ Gambian opposition claims fraud BBC News, 25 September 2006
  3. ^ Gambians vote with their marbles BBC News, 22 September 2006

Further reading