The electoral body is "100 percent prepared" for the vote and it will be held on time, said Justice Chan Reec Madut. Some observers had worried that south Sudan's poor infrastructure and political issues might delay the polls.

Most people expect the south will vote for independence from the north.

The two sides fought a bloody civil war that stretched over two decades. Sunday's vote is the culmination of a peace deal that ended the conflict in 2005.

Just over 3.93 million people have registered to vote, said Madut. Elections will be held in both northern and southern Sudan. Diaspora voting took place in eight countries in November and December.

Madut said the distribution of ballots across the south and training of polling staff was almost complete, but access was still a problem in some areas of the south, one of the most underdeveloped places in the world. Despite this, he said, nothing would stop the southern Sudanese from voting.

"Our people are ready to walk for six hours, eight hours, in order to reach their polling centers," he said.

The main challenge still facing the commission is funding, which Madut said "is not forthcoming from Khartoum." According to the referendum law, Sudan's national government in Khartoum was supposed to fund the vote with help from the international community.

Madut said he hoped the funding issue might be resolved during Sudanese President Omar Bashir's visit to Juba Tuesday. Al-Bashir is expected to meet with his southern counterpart, Salva Kiir.

Last week Bashir said he would be "the first to recognize the south" if voters choose independence in the self-determination vote.

Among the last-minute hitches is a hold up in stipends for the police. They have still not received the $24,000 needed to feed 60,000 security personnel who will be stationed across the south for the seven days of polling, said Lt.

Gen. Gordon Micah, the deputy head of the south's police force.