The Electoral Observation Mission indicated that, among the main anomalies recorded so far on election day, irregularities related to electoral propaganda and damage to freedom to vote
Colombia began the election day for the presidency of Colombia at 8:00 in the morning this Sunday, May 29. Photo: AFP
The Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) reported that, between between 12:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. this Sunday, May 29, it has received 119 reports of alleged irregularities and electoral crimes in 48 municipalities, in 22 departments -including Bogotá-, so far this election day.
According to the EOM, only on the morning of this election day, 28 irregularities were reported that directly affect the freedom to vote, especially in nine departments, although the district is also included. capital. “Most of these reports have been registered in Valle del Cauca, Bogotá, and in the departments of Antioquia, Atlántico, Caldas, Norte de Santander and Sucre,” he reported.
There are, in total, 17 reports of vote buying that have been made to the Electoral Observation Mission, and 13 cases in which employees would have been pressured by their bosses to choose a presidential candidate. The refusal, in certain situations, to exercise the electoral right was also denounced:“With some cases in which there are limitations or restrictions on the possibility of going out to vote by employers.”
Approximately 15 electoral witnesses denounced problems with their accreditations, so they had problems when entering the posts. “This was evidenced in the municipalities of Guarne, Medellín, and Remedios Yondó in Antioquia, as well as in Cali in Valle del Cauca and Bogotá”. The EOM also reported that in 13% of the polling stations observed, jurors were identified as wearing a garment alluding to a campaign, a delicate fact because “it affects impartiality and denotes the lack of control by the authorities in these positions”< /b>.
Regarding advertising in favor of some candidates in the vicinity of the polling stations, the EOM reported that 26 irregularities were reported inBarrancabermeja (Santander); Medellín, Bello and Peñol (Antioquia); Valledupar, (Cesar); in addition to Villavicencio, Meta, Manizales, Caldas, Bogotá, Leticia and Amazonas.
Regarding how the situation of order and security developed, there were three attacks: one in the Sardinata village in the municipality of Cartagena del Chairá, Caquetá, and the other two in La Macarena Meta, and El Retorno, Guaviare. In the last case, the MOE reported that two fatalities had been recorded, but Minister Molano explained that no: there was a National Army soldier, Luis Felipe Hernández, injured by the shrapnel from the detonation, who is in a health center .
For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Daniel Palacios, pointed out that 31 voting stations had to be moved due to weather conditions. The EOM indicated regarding the relocation of polling stations: “Yesterday, and at the request of the community, the voting station was transferred from the Mazamorrero village in Santander de Quilichao to the El Palmar village for security reasons.” .