Incidents reported with ballots marked by delegates during runoff election in Peru

So far there are 3 electoral delegates detained

Lima, Peru.– The president of the National Jury of Elections (JNE), Roberto Burneo, reported that electoral authorities are investigating various incidents recorded during the presidential runoff election day in Peru, including reports of more than 90 ballots that had allegedly been pre-marked by representatives of political organizations.

As detailed, the cases were detected by the inspection teams deployed at the polling stations and immediately brought to the attention of the competent authorities for their evaluation. According to the official report, at least 15 incidents have been identified in Metropolitan Lima, in addition to other cases in regions such as Puno and various locations across the country.

Burneo explained that the corresponding measures are being executed in accordance with current electoral legislation, with the participation of electoral system inspectors, police officers, and representatives of the Public Ministry.

You might be interested in: Keiko Fujimori casts her vote in San Borja during the presidential runoff in Peru

The magistrate highlighted that more than 7,000 prosecutors, 10,000 police officers, 28,000 inspectors, and nearly 100,000 workers from the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) remain deployed nationwide to monitor the progress of the elections and address any eventualities.

In light of the complaints spread in some sectors, Burneo called for prudence and rejected that the detected incidents be used to support accusations of electoral fraud without a prior investigation.

“We cannot speak irresponsibly of fraud,” he stated, noting that it is up to the Special Electoral Juries to determine, within due process, whether there were acts of coercion, irregularities, or violations of electoral regulations.

Electoral authorities reiterated that all complaints are being verified and that any proven infraction will be sanctioned according to the law, while the electoral day continues to unfold throughout the Peruvian territory.

Detained observers

Peruvian authorities arrested this Sunday two observers from one of the two political parties vying for the country’s Presidency, the leftist Juntos por el Perú and Fuerza Popular, for having marked 90 ballots at a polling station in Lima, official sources reported. According to Burneo, 50 of the ballots were immediately replaced with contingency material.

An 81-year-old man, identified as Horacio Javier Huamayalli, who is listed as an affiliate of the Aprista party, was detained by National Police agents after the alleged irregular cancellation of 93 ballots was detected at an educational center in the Los Olivos district. The individual under investigation was taken to the local police station for the alleged crime against the popular will.

According to preliminary reports, authorities intervened after apparent improper marks were noticed on the electoral ballots, a situation that prompted the activation of the corresponding protocols to determine responsibilities and ensure the transparency of the electoral process. The investigation is ongoing.