by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Voter registration for the September 1 Primary Election for Decision 2012 ended Wednesday and according to Guam Election Commission executive director Maria Pangelinan, while the final tally of registered voters won't be available until Saturday, she expects the total count to be lower than 2010's gubernatorial primary election but higher than the 2008 primary election.

"The 2008 elections were mayoral as well, we should surpass the number of registered voters in 2008, but in 2010 for the gubernatorial election, the primary election showed there were over 50,000 registered voters, I don't think we're going to get there but we will surely surpass 2008 numbers," he said.

As of August 17, the GEC had a total of 47,903 registered voters in which it expects it to exceed the 48,424 count from 2008. Voter registration along with district registration will resume this time for the general election starting on September 4. The GEC meanwhile reports close to 250 ballots have already been cast from in-office voting, homebound voting and from absentee ballots.

In-office voting ends next week Friday, whereas homebound and absentee ballots will continue until next week Saturday.