Haiti Libre:
Today, more than 50 presidential candidates were in the running in search of the votes of some 5.8 million registered voters, as well as candidates of the second round of legislative elections (Chamber of Deputies and Senate) in 119 constituencies and finally the municipal elections cartels.
The elections have just ended at 4:00 pm, however a large number of voters were still in line waiting to vote. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced that all “voters who are still in the waiting lines after the closing time, will be able to vote after this time.”
According to Rosny Desroches of the Citizen Observatory for Institutionalizing Democracy (OCID), which recommends the protection of ballot boxes at the close of the polls, these elections are “a significant improvement compared to those of 9th August. There have been some failures, but we have seen a marked improvement, 89% of the materials were available in the 1,401 voting center.”
“All the losers today are temporary winners,” declared Prime Minister Paul before the polls closed “I voted with a patriotic feeling. My vote is an incentive signal to the undecided, to tell them to vote. This is one of our responsibilities to ensure that the popular vote is respected. We are certain that the day will end well. I call the undecided to express themselves before the close of polling stations. The results of voting process so far is positive.”
Two hours before the close of polling stations, Sandra Honoré, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Haiti declared “What I’ve seen so far is that the number of voters is growing.”
According to Celso Amorim, the head of the Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organization of American States (OAS), there were no irregularities according to the report os his various observers scattered across the country, commending the plurality of representatives recorded in the various voting center.
Other events of the day :
At the National School of Thor, a man armed with a knife was arrested by police and taken to the Commissariat of Thor Omega.
4 people have been arrested in Léogâne for various violations of the electoral law.
Supporters of the party PHTK and “Pitit Desalin” have been arrested for violation of the electoral law (election propaganda).
In Jacmel police due intervene to stop a protest.
On the Island of Gonâve no arrests was reported, but some voters attempted to vote several times.
At the level of the voting center of the National School of Estère gunshots were heard.
In Grande Saline, individuals shot on the voting center of the National School of Chevreau Long-Barre, but calm has now returned.
The counting have already begun as is the case among others, in Saint Marc to the voting center of the National School of Latour of Pont-Sondé…