Second report Electoral Observation Mission Colombia – Congressional Elections and inter-party consultations – March 13, 2022
Mar 13, 2022
  • The day was characterized by citizen complaints about failures in the consolidation
    process of the electoral census and the outreach measures to inform citizens about their
    polling stations.
  • Special Districts for Peace Elections (CITREP): In 26% of the positions observed, the
    juries were not handing out the electoral cards of the Special District for Peace, along
    with the ordinary cards.
  • Although in most of the territory the electoral day has passed relatively calmly, MOE
    regrets the death of two soldiers, which occurred amid actions by Illegal Armed Groups
    in La Cristalina (Meta) and in the village of La Novia Celestial, San Vicente of Caguán
    (Caquetá). Since 2015 there have been no disturbances of public order during an
    election day with fatal events to regret.

Bogotá, March 13 2022.The Electoral Observation Mission – Colombia delivers to the authorities, media, civil society organizations and interested citizens, the second observation report of the opening of the electoral day of the elections to Congress of the Republic and Inter Party Consultations of 2022. 

The report consists of information gathered by the electoral observation mission between 11:00 am until 3:30 pm. MOE has also communicated with 20 political parties that are participating in these elections. Their reports of irregularities have been included in this press release.

1. EFFECTS ON THE RIGHT TO VOTE 

Election day has been characterized by citizens’ confusion about the polling stations. In 85% of the polling stations observed by MOE, cases were reported of citizens who approached the polling station where they assumed their identity card was registered and found it difficult to vote, either because their polling station was moved without prior notice, or because they did not they knew where their voting table was, they did not have their identity card registered at the voting station, or they changed their voting station but had problems associated with the biometric verification. 

These confusions, which finally prevented the exercise of the vote of several citizens, have their origin in the failures presented since January in the application for the registration of identity, particularly regarding the biometric validation. Likewise, the malfunction of the National Civil Registry web page and problems with opening the Infovotantes app that were presented this morning, prevented the verification of the voting station by the citizens. 

MOE reiterates its call to the National Civil Registry Office to review and adjust the processes of consolidating the electoral census and the operation of information tools for citizens as the presidential elections approach. 

2. PUBLIC ORDER 

Although in most of the territory the election day has passed relatively calmly, MOE deplores the death of two soldiers, which occurred amid actions by Illegal Armed Groups in La Cristalina (Meta) and in the village of La Novia Celestial, San Vicente of Caguán (Caquetá). Since 2015 there have been no disturbances to public order on an election day with fatal events to regret. 

Other reported disturbances that affected the normal development of different polling stations have to do with: the attempted blockade of the Dibulla – Santa Marta road (Guajira, Magdalena), which has already been controlled by the authorities; the transfer of the polling station in Puerto Alegría (Amazonas); demonstrations or blockades due to citizen protest in Sabanalarga (Atlantico), Guachaca, Sata Marta (Magdalena), San Luis Robles, Tumaco (Nariño), and Puerto Rondón (Arauca).

3. POLITICAL PARTIES REPORTS 

During election day, reports have been received from the political parties MAIS, Colombia Renaciente, ADA and AICO parties, describing that in different territories the cards for the special constituencies (Afro and indigenous seats) have not been delivered, due mostly to the ignorance of the juring of the voting tables. 

Reports have also been received from the parties Cambio Radical, Liberal, Dignidad, de la Unidad, and New Liberalism about the non-delivery of cards for the inter-party consultations in the cases of the coalitions Equipo por Colombia and Centro Esperanza. 

4. SPECIAL DISTRICTS FOR PEACE – CITREP 

In 26% of the positions observed where Special Districts of Peace were elected, cases were reported in which the juries of the voting table did not deliver the Special District for Peace electoral cards to the voters along with the ordinary cards, as ordered by the electoral authorities. 

5. ELECTORAL IRREGULARITIES 

Between 12:05 am and 3:30 pm, the Electoral Observation Mission has received a total of 735 reports on possible irregularities and electoral crimes in 176 municipalities in the country, corresponding to 31 departments and Bogotá, as well as regarding the electoral process. of Colombians abroad. The main reports are: 

  • Prohibited election propaganda The Pilas Con el Voto platform received a total of 171 reports of prohibited electoral propaganda. Antioquia was the department with the highest number of reported cases (43), followed by Cundinamarca (26), Bogotá (23), and Tolima (15). Most of these cases correspond to people who were handing out flyers, wearing campaign badges and approaching voters in the vicinity of polling stations. In 4 of those cases, it was alleged that the electoral propaganda was deployed by voting juries, who were wearing party badges or promoting specific candidacies to voters.

Of the reports received for prohibited electoral propaganda, 15 correspond to violations consisting of calls, text messages, and via WhatsApp, which were received by citizens, despite not having the authorization to send this kind of advertisement. 

  • Problems with the electoral census 

MOE received a total of 60 reports related to problems regarding the electoral census. Specifically, citizens have reported that despite having completed the process of changing the polling place, and in many cases having the respective certificate (Form E4), upon arrival at the polling place their identification card was not registered and they had to vote in a different voting station of which they were unaware. 

This situation occurred in 29 municipalities in 15 departments, the most representative being Bogotá (17 reports), Medellín (9), Envigado and Pereira (3). Likewise, it has been reported that deceased persons continue to appear in the electoral census. 

  • Failure to comply with electoral procedures 

MOE received 77 reports in which citizens have reported non compliance with electoral procedures by voting juries. For example, on some occasions they have not delivered all the electoral cards, especially those of special Afro constituencies and inter-party consultations. On other occasions, they gave voting cards different from the one requested. These irregularities occurred to a greater extent in Bogotá (12), Cali (9), Barranquilla (5) and Medellín (8). 

6. ELECTION DAY WEATHER 

Due to landslides as a result of the rains, the polling station in San Pablo de Bijagual, in Córdoba, Nariño, was definitely moved. Other polling stations that had difficulties in opening due to climatic difficulties were: Tres Bocas, in Tibú (Norte de Santander), where the voter registry was damaged due to the rain; the Socorro post, in Ituango (Antioquia), which had delays due to flooding; the Vijagual polling station, in Nechí (Antioquia), opened late due to landslides on the road; and in Algeciras (Huila), due to heavy flooding.

7. OBSERVATION OF THE TRANS PROTOCOL 

6 cases of hostile behavior were reported against trans people that were conducting electoral observation in the municipalities of Sabanagrande, Atlántico; Medellin, Envigado, Antioquia; Florence, Caqueta; Valledupar, Cesar, and Ciénaga, Magdalena. Additionally, 3 cases were reported in which the gender identity of the voter was not respected.

Information Mónica Acosta López, Communications Coordinator. 312 320 37 79

13.03.22.MOEPressRelease2.DiaD_.docx

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