By DANNY O. SAGUN

MORE than a million Pangasinense voters are expected to troop to polling places tomorrow to elect their new set of officials.

There are now a total 1,361,167 registered voters in Pangasinan distributed in 9,651 precincts in 1,364 barangays, considered one the biggest voting populations in the country, records at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections showed.

The third congressional district composed of five towns and the city of San Carlos has the biggest number of voters with 289,106, followed by the fifth district – composed of eight towns and the city of Urdaneta – with 232,711 voters.

The eight towns in the second district have a total 226,636 voters, while the sixth district composed of 10 towns has 212,028. Dagupan City and its neighboring four towns which compose the fourth district have 207,957 voters. The first district with nine towns and the city of Alaminos has the least number of voters with192,729.

The gubernatorial post is being hotly contested by Dr. Jamie Agbayani, wife of outgoing Gov. Victor E. Agbayani, second district Congressman Amado Espino and Vice-Governor Oscar Lambino. The vice-governor race pits Board Members Dionisio Villar who teams up with Agbayani and Marlyn Primicias (for Espino). Lambino has no running mate.

Two board members will be elected in each congressional district.

The congressional battles being closely watched are those in the fourth district featuring re-electionist Congressman Jose de Venecia, Jr. and Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim and the third district where four candidates are vying for the position – socialite Rachel Arenas, Generoso Tulagan Jr., lawyer Gallant Soriano and Bayambang Mayor Leodovico de Vera.

Also interesting is the congressional fight in the second district where Governor Agbayani, a last termer, is running to establish a family record of sort – he as congressman and his wife, governor.

The first district fight has re-electionist Arthur Celeste and retired Army General Alberto Braganza as protagonists.

San Carlos has the biggest voting population with 86,050, followed by Dagupan, 80,115; Urdaneta, 64,205; Malasiqui, 56,414; Bayambang, 51,332; Binmaley, 47,699; Lingayen, 46,318; Calasiao, 43,443; Mangaldan, 43,419; Alaminos, 36,227; and San Fabian (10th spot), 36,014.

At least sieven areas are being closely monitored because of the heated election campaign – San Carlos, which is now under Comelec control with the killing Mayor Julian V. Resuello; San Manuel, San Nicolas, San Fabian, Binmaley, and lately Bani and Sual. (DOS)