The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of Bolivia assessed the electoral process of the second round of the national elections as positive, highlighting the normality in voting, citizen participation and the absence of relevant incidents throughout the country.
In an interview, the president of the TSE, Óscar Hassenteufel, reported that 100% of the more than 34 thousand Bolivian voting stations were open normally, allowing voting throughout the national territory. “The assessment we have this half of the day is very positive. The electoral logistics were implemented successfully and efficiently, and we thank the Bolivian people for their responsible conduct,” he said.
He also indicated that voting abroad went smoothly in the 22 countries and more than 100 cities where electoral districts were created. Until 12 pm, Europe registered the closure of 309 tables and one in Japan, while in other American countries voting continued according to different time zones.
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Regarding electoral incidents, the head of the TSE mentioned an isolated case in Beni, where a previously marked ballot was detected, a situation that was immediately resolved with the cancellation of the material. “There are no reports of major events or irregularities affecting the process,” he said.
Regarding the weather incidents recorded in the north of La Paz, where two municipalities were affected by floods, Hassenteufel explained that the TSE took preventive measures in the city of Tipuani, due to the fact that a flood had damaged one of the electoral districts. “The district has been transferred and voting is proceeding normally,” he said.
He attributed the lower flow of voters seen in the morning to these climate problems, but said he believed the situation would normalize in the afternoon.
The Electoral Observation missions of the European Union (EU) and the Observar Bolivia Network (MOEC-BO) also highlighted the broad citizen participation during the second round and said that it takes place in a climate of peace and normality throughout the country.
The head of the EU mission The head of the European mission said that 120 observers are deployed throughout the national territory, supervising the electoral process.
The TSE hopes to complete it by Wednesday or Thursday, as the second round process is simpler. He recalled that the law allows a maximum period of seven days to complete the national count.
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In this calmer climate, the two presidential candidates have already voted. Rodrigo Paz, from the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), cast his vote in Tarija and spoke of a change in the country’s cycle. “This bicentenary [da independência do país] brings us to the end of the cycle, which is a victory for democracy and begins a [nova] step. What is defined today is who leads this cycle and this will be done by the people of Bolivia”, said the presidential candidate.
If competing, former president and candidate of Aliança Livre Jorge Tuto Quiroga recalled that voting is a free and secret right, therefore no citizen can be forced to show their ballot or reveal who they voted for during the election day of this second round.
“No one can force you or demand that you show your vote, it is a free and personal right. No one can demand a photo of your vote. It is free and secret. Exercise it with all the power you have as a citizen,” said the former president.
