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OAS Submits First Report on Local Elections in Colombia

  October 30, 2011

The Electoral Oversight Mission (EOM) of the Organization of American States (OAS) present in the Colombian elections for governor, mayor, Congressman or woman and council representative today deployed 60 overseers in 23 of the country's Departments, including the Capital District.

At 8:30 in the morning, they submitted their first report on the electoral process. The information reflects the conditions in which the voting began.

Thus, based on the facts collected from 50 tables, the following was established:

• The tables observed opened at 08:03 on average.

• One hundred percent of the tables observed were equipped with the necessary materials for voting.

• Eighty-four percent of tables observed had all their head members.

• Some 16 percent of national electoral observers were present at 8:00 am.

• The spaces in some 68 percent of voting sites were considered appropriate.

• Security forces were present in some 96 percent of voting places observed or their surroundings.

• Some 78 percent of voters at the tables observed had adequate information about the location of their voting tables.

• There was a low presence of electoral witnesses at the voting tables.

The EOM/OAS calls on Colombian citizens to cast their vote before the closing of the polls. Furthermore, it invites electoral witnesses to be present at voting tables to support the transparency of the elections.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-927/11