Observers lament irregularities at the Polling Stations

Observers working in the legislative elections at some of the Polling Stations lamented the attitude of some officials coercing visually impaired voters to vote in the officials’ own interests, while assisting them in the polling booths. 

“Currently the elderly sit at a table, prick their ballot papers, fold them and then place them in the ballot boxes,” lamented Bernardino Gusmão (07/07), in Wailili, Baucau.

According to him, some officials were showing visually impaired people, only one party’s icon and not the others. By rights, all icons should have been shown, and then voters be allowed to choose, he added. 

FRETILIN militant Fernando Clau Soares Marques rejected this allegation stating all political parties’ officials were there throughout the voting process and his members had all been explained with regards to the voting process.

“If you can’t see clearly, you turn up at the polling station and ask the officials there to assist you with your choice,” said the FRETILIN representative.

The electoral staff are simply following the voter’s wishes and facilitating them in making their choice.
“This is incorrect information,” stated the FRETILIN representative.