Colombia's legislative elections and interparty primaries have created a stir in the South American nation, after major irregularities were reported by NGOs, candidates and social media users.
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The Electoral Observer Mission (OEM) – which had warned of the risk of fraud in hundreds of municipalities in the run-up to the elections –reported numerous inconsistencies as videos surfaced on social media appearing to show vote-buying and other fraudulent activities.
"Unauthorized information desks" had been set up in front of polling stations in various towns "with lists of voters and transportation ready to receive them," the OEM said.
The OEM also highlighted the lack of accreditation "generating protests": at least 141 towns registered more voters than inhabitants, especially in the provinces of Antioquia, Boyaca and Santander. In addition, 30 percent of voters surveyed by the mission said they could not cast their ballots in secret.
#EleccionesColombia Balance de #ObservaciónMOE en el 30% de los cubículos destinados para que la gente vote no garantizaban que la votación se realizara de manera secreta. #PilasConElVoto pic.twitter.com/ImK3q9wxbp
— MOE (@moecolombia) 12 mars 2018
1. Vote Buying:
Users posted videos in which people identified with different parties gave out money to polling stations just before voting.
2. Photocopies:
The National Civil Registry head Juan Carlos Galindo reported that in the places where the cards for the consultations ran out, voters cast their ballot with a photocopy.
3. Hiding Ballots:
Supporters of Gustavo Petro say the ballots for the primaries of the"Social inclusion for peace" were hidden from voters, leaving only those of the right-wing coalition available to voters.
4. Not extending voting hours:
Despite all the irregularities that delayed the process, some voters had to leave without voting because of the lack of cards as polls closed at 4:00 p.m. local time.