2023-11-17 08:57:21
The conduct of the November 16 ballot was unsurprisingly marked by low voter turnout. The trend of results displayed by the CENI at 6:30 a.m. shows a 39.10% participation rate. These results come from 1498 out of the 27,3875 existing polling stations, or 5.47%.
Yesterday, the Safidy Observatory recorded an overall participation rate of 22.4% at 12 p.m. compared to 44% in the first round of the 2018 presidential elections at the same time. Its estimates come from a sample of 1,400 polling stations throughout Madagascar spread across 23 regions.
When the first estimates were released, the Candidates’ Collective released a press release welcoming this high rate of abstention, given that it called for a boycott of the vote. The majority of voters did not go to the polling stations, thus giving a record abstention rate in the history of presidential elections in Madagascar, declares the Collective. The latter thus ensures that it continues its movement until its demands are met.
For its part, the United States, in a press release published yesterday evening, said it was concerned by the low participation rate and pointed to irregularities in the electoral process. “The United States Embassy and other international observers will monitor the vote count and continue to closely monitor the process,” the statement said. The U.S. Embassy and other observers reported irregularities at polling stations, including by political party representatives. She also deplores the lack of staff or training for electoral staff in many places.
“The United States Embassy and other embassies, international organizations and international observers will meet to review and verify information over the coming days and weeks regarding the conduct of the elections during voting, counting and counting. transportation of ballots,” the press release continued.
For the Safidy Observatory, several reports of irregularities were received through the Safidy Observatory’s toll-free numbers. Observers noted inadequacies in the application of voting procedures. Furthermore, cases of voters having received permission to vote without having the necessary documents have multiplied. Cases of voters having the electoral card and/or registration form but who are not found in the list have been observed. Several cases of temporary closure of polling stations were also reported through toll-free numbers. Candidate delegates were present at the polling stations, but without those of the members of the candidates’ collective who called for a boycott of the election.
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