Dong Nguyen, representative of the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), says they will not carry out an investigation into the failure of the automated vote in the suspended municipal elections of February 16. The IFES had been mentioned as one of three international entities that would be auditing the e-voting system.
IFES now says it will not carry out the audit because there are other entities that will be carrying out the task with great professionalism. The Dominican government has named the Organization of American States (OAS) and the International Union of Electoral Organizations (UNIORE), and technicians affiliated with these two entities are expected to carry out the audit.
Nguyen said that IFES will this time around will support the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the political parties by assisting to ensure a rapid and reliable transmission of results.
“The rapid and secure transmission of the results is something that can contribute to strengthening the credibility of the results. It is our vision to support the upcoming elections,” Nguyen said. The scanners had been purchased for the 2016 general elections. At the time, their operation was a failure, and most did not serve the purpose for which they were purchased.
Nguyen said that they will also contribute to strengthening the capacities of reporters in electoral matters, especially given the rise of social networks that upload unedited information.
The media has reported that OAS secretary general Luis Almagro will visit on Monday, 2 March 2020, for the signing of an amended agreement regarding privileges and immunities of OAS observers for the municipal, presidential and congressional elections at 3 pm at the JCE headquarters. The agreement also addresses the audit to determine the reasons for the e-voting glitch during the municipal election on 16 February 2020 and whether there were internal or external causes.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
Hoy
El Dia
N Digital
2 March 2020