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Puerto Rico discovers uncounted ballots 1 week after election

Puerto Rico’s elections commission said Tuesday that it has discovered more than 100 briefcases containing uncounted ballots a week after the US territory held its general election, drawing criticism and scorn from voters who now question the validity of the outcomes of certain races. Photo: VIC
VI CONSORTIUM

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico’s elections commission said Tuesday, November 10, 2020, that it has discovered more than 100 briefcases containing uncounted ballots a week after the US territory held its general election, drawing criticism and scorn from voters who now question the validity of the outcomes of certain races.

Francisco Rosado, the commission’s new president, said the briefcases were found in a secured vault and blamed the situation on what he said was an underfunded and understaffed administrative board responsible for counting a record number of absentee and early votes.

“We’ve identified, much to our regret, a disorganisation in the handling of material in the vaults,” he said at a press conference. “Misplaced. Poorly organised. We have to admit that.”

Rosado said he didn’t know yet how many total votes are in the 126 briefcases, noting some contained three ballots and others 500 ballots. Officials initially said there were 182 briefcases but later revised the number.

“Every vote will be counted,” he said. “I have to tell the people of Puerto Rico to trust the transparency of the process.”

The discovery is the latest misstep for a commission that botched the island’s primaries in August so badly that a second round of voting was held, an unprecedented situation that led to the commission’s previous president to resign a month later. Then the commission was criticised for taking a record four days after the November 3, 2020, general election to finalise counting nearly all votes, only to announce on Tuesday that it had discovered more briefcases. Traditionally, the commission releases final vote counts the night of the election.

Roberto Iván Aponte, electoral commissioner for Puerto Rico’s Independence Party, said in a phone interview that he expects all votes inside the newly discovered suitcases to be counted by Thursday at the latest. He said those votes could affect races like the one for mayor of Culebra, a popular tourist island just east of Puerto Rico. The mayor elect won only by two votes, according to preliminary results.

Aponte and other officials blame the ongoing problems on a new law that Governor Wanda Vázquez approved in June just two months before the primary that led to several changes including the softening of restrictions for absentee and early voting and eliminating departments and high-ranking positions within the elections commission, which led to the departure of longtime officials. This year, Puerto Rico received more than 220,000 absentee and early votes, a record for officials who have been overwhelmed by the paperwork.

Aponte warned that the commission’s ongoing problems are sowing doubt among voters

“After these elections, there has to be a serious evaluation of how those votes will be handled,” he said, referring to absentee and early votes. (Associated Press)

15 Responses to “Puerto Rico discovers uncounted ballots 1 week after election”

  • foxy (11/11/2020, 19:40) Like (7) Dislike (14) Reply
    biden is still the winner so go sit down
  • Peaches (11/11/2020, 19:49) Like (13) Dislike (33) Reply
    Yet people are saying that Trump is wrong to contest the elections. The United States needs to scrap this whole election and do a new one. Too much fraud, man!
  • throw more paper towels (11/11/2020, 21:47) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    S#!TH0LE COUNTRY
  • duh (12/11/2020, 06:22) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Puerto Rico and the other US territories do not have representation in the U.S. Congress. Meaning... they cannot vote during the presidential election. Reading is fundamental... it said PR's general election.
  • @PEACHES (12/11/2020, 06:27) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Get your facts straight the Island of Puerto Rico cannot vote in a Presidential election. While its citizens are Americans only States are allowed to do so. It is therefore considered to be an Island not State. The discovery of these uncounted ballots will impact only local election. However this does not say that any election is fraud free.
  • Whst the news wont cover (12/11/2020, 06:55) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    None of the mainstream media outlets are covering what may be the biggest election fraud in history. Donald trump has a very strong case with hundreds of signed affidavit witnesses ready to testify from the key states. Joe Biden and Kamala are both incapable of running the country.
  • concern (12/11/2020, 07:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all are saying that Puerto Rico and US territory can not vote but yet a lot of US citizens living in Tortola said they voted online. So uhm help me to understand this?
  • usa (12/11/2020, 09:14) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    ERRRR MS. PEACHES, THE USVI AND PUERTO RICO DOES NOT VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. JANUARY 23, ORANGE MAN WILL BE LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE.
  • Jerry Teeler (18/11/2020, 21:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yep. Probably all Biden. We've know it was rigged all along.


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