Elections 2019: Elections Day
MABB ©
Between 7 and 8 am today Bolivia began voting for a new president, vice-president and congress. At the time of writing this post, the day is coming to an end, the people already voted to a large extent, electoral tables have started with the counting of votes and many are already done and closed.
One of the first results came from Japan, as the electoral process was carried out around the world where Bolivians live. Bolivians around the world in 33 countries are voting for president and vice-president.
The day was, according to press coverage, largely quiet, Bolivians turned out to vote and were able to do that in what already is a routine manner.
There were some events having to do with the consumption of alcohol, driving vehicles and some accidents.
One extraordinary event in Santa Cruz was the arrest of more than 100 young people supporters of Oscar Ortiz, Bolivia Dijo No/21 Febrero, who were meeting in the political organization's headquarters. The police arrived and as they asked the people to leave there was resistance and therefore the police proceeded to arrest them.
The leadership of the BDN/21F said they were about to leave to the electoral places to control the process in that part of the city.
Other than that, the different groups of international observers did not issue any statement. Surely they will wait until the final count is complete.
In fact, there are many private citizens going back to the electoral table to control the counting process of the votes. One former La Paz mayor commented the distrust from the part of people vis-a-vis the government. Many people are filming and posting those videos via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Whatapp.
Cochabamba and Tarija are reporting the end of the counting process.
Prisoners all around the country have voted. In Bolivia, people do not lose that right when they are incarcerated.
Closing into 7 pm, Comunidad Ciudadana said they have their own counting system with a rapid count and a per electoral table, which will take a bit longer. They do not trust the government.
Bolivia is waiting for the preliminary results, the results of that rapid count system from the OEP, to know the results. This will take place at 8 pm, but all indicates the publication of results will be delayed by the late or slow arrival of the ballots.
The law gives the OEP up to seven days to publish the official results, they estimate however they will have results by Tuesday.
I leave you with some images of the day.
Between 7 and 8 am today Bolivia began voting for a new president, vice-president and congress. At the time of writing this post, the day is coming to an end, the people already voted to a large extent, electoral tables have started with the counting of votes and many are already done and closed.
One of the first results came from Japan, as the electoral process was carried out around the world where Bolivians live. Bolivians around the world in 33 countries are voting for president and vice-president.
The day was, according to press coverage, largely quiet, Bolivians turned out to vote and were able to do that in what already is a routine manner.
There were some events having to do with the consumption of alcohol, driving vehicles and some accidents.
One extraordinary event in Santa Cruz was the arrest of more than 100 young people supporters of Oscar Ortiz, Bolivia Dijo No/21 Febrero, who were meeting in the political organization's headquarters. The police arrived and as they asked the people to leave there was resistance and therefore the police proceeded to arrest them.
The leadership of the BDN/21F said they were about to leave to the electoral places to control the process in that part of the city.
Other than that, the different groups of international observers did not issue any statement. Surely they will wait until the final count is complete.
In fact, there are many private citizens going back to the electoral table to control the counting process of the votes. One former La Paz mayor commented the distrust from the part of people vis-a-vis the government. Many people are filming and posting those videos via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Whatapp.
Cochabamba and Tarija are reporting the end of the counting process.
Prisoners all around the country have voted. In Bolivia, people do not lose that right when they are incarcerated.
Closing into 7 pm, Comunidad Ciudadana said they have their own counting system with a rapid count and a per electoral table, which will take a bit longer. They do not trust the government.
Bolivia is waiting for the preliminary results, the results of that rapid count system from the OEP, to know the results. This will take place at 8 pm, but all indicates the publication of results will be delayed by the late or slow arrival of the ballots.
The law gives the OEP up to seven days to publish the official results, they estimate however they will have results by Tuesday.
I leave you with some images of the day.
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| Voting was for the most part regular. |
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| This is how citizens voted. They presented id and were checked off on the list. |
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| This is how the ballots arrive at the counting centers. |
