Press Release
December 9, 2007
01:00 a.m.
Preliminary report on the course of electoral process of the second round of Mayoral elections
The second round of mayoral elections generally went properly. There were no irregularities of high extent to be able to influence final result.
Observers of ‘Democracy in Action’ have noticed several irregularities which were reported in the previous day that can be summarized as cases of ‘family voting’, cases when to a voter more than one ballot was issued, cases when polling station clerks influenced the voters to vote for a specific candidate, and similar irregularities..
In the overwhelming majority the time to start preparations for opening of polling stations was respected. In 29 cases preparations for opening polling station were delayed starting around 7:30 a.m.
In 334 cases (polling stations) there were no information displayed on the way how to vote. In 440 polling stations there were no lists of political entities and of the candidates running for mayors.
In few cases polling stations were short of basic equipments like: official stamp (9 cases), UV lamp (6 cases), and invisible ink (6 cases). Likewise, in six polling stations the empty ballot box was not shown before polling started.
In 51 cases checking for presence of invisible ink was not implemented for all voters, voting in that polling station. In 43 cases verification of identity cards was not done for all voters voting in those specific polling stations. In 30 polling stations it was noticed that there were cases were voters did not sign on the box dedicated (near to their names) in the Final Voters List.
In 160 polling stations there were noticed numerous voters that did find their names in the final voters list of their polling stations.
In 48 polling stations it was noticed that polling station clerk did not spray fingers of all the voters voting in those stations. Worrisome was the low quality of invisible ink and UV lamps that made impossible detection of the presence of the ink in the fingers of the voters that voted previously. In 24 cases the voters that refused to have their finger sprayed were given the opportunity to vote.
In 99 polling stations there were cases of marking their ballots out of voting screens.
In 933 polling stations there were cases where more than a voter entered voting screens.
In 58 polling stations short tensions were noticed that influenced voting environment but later was averted.
In 144 polling stations the secrecy of the vote was not kept and there were several forms of open voting.
In 17 polling stations continual political propaganda was noticed inside polling station.
In 383 polling stations, security forces were present inside the polling stations.
In 45 polling stations unauthorized persons were noticed.
In 62 polling stations voters who voted more than once were noticed.
18 polling stations were closed prior to the official time set for polling closure and that earlier than 06:50 p.m. while 10 polling stations were closed after 08:00 p.m.
In 48 polling stations unauthorized persons were noticed during counting process.
In 24 polling stations security seals of ballot boxes were damaged.
Counting process is evaluated to be meeting the requirements except 5 cases of hard irregularities that could influence results and other 45 cases of irregularities but that did not influence the results.
Results:
o Fushë Kosova: Burim Berisha (LDK)
o Mitrovica: Bajram Rexhepi (PDK)
o Prizren: Ramadan Muja (PDK)
o Prishtina: Isa Mustafa (LDK)
o Obiliq: Rexhep Kelani (LDK)
o Ferizaj: Bajrush Xhemajli (PDK)
o Viti: Nexhmedin Arifi (PDK)
o Peja: Ali Berisha (AAK)
o Gjakova: Pal Lekaj (AAK)
o Gjilan: Qemajl Mustafa (PDK)
o Dragash: Selim Jonuzi (PDK)
o Istog: Fadil Ferati (LDK)
o Klina: Sokol Bashota (PDK)
o Podujeva: Ilaz Pireva (LDK)
o Rahovec: Qazim Qeska (PDK)
o Shtime: Naim Ismaili (PDK)
o Suhareka: Sali Asllani (LDK)
o Lipjan: Shukri Buja (PDK)
o Vushtrri: Bajram Mulaku (PDK)
o Malisheva: Isni Kilaj (PDK)
o Deqan: Musa Berisha (AAK)
o Dragash: Selim Jonuzi (PDK)
o Kaqanik: Xhabir Zharku (PDK)
General recommendations for second rounds:
o To be seriously considered the issue of conditional votes, maybe even abolish this practice. Reported cases show that there were individuals that cases where many conditional ballots were cast in the polling stations very near to their dwelling-place, and on the other hand a large scale of conditional voting was reported.
o Voter’s Lists to be updated.
o Polling stations clerks to be better trained, as for example on the procedure for conditional voting.
o To be taken more seriously in to consideration the issue of ballots. Ballots without the names of candidates were problematic for a number of voters and there were cases noticed where voter has written his name instead of the name of the candidate.
o Certification of election results should be made in a quicker manner.
o By the time the date of elections is announced, the date of second round should be set.
© 2007 Demokracia në Veprim. Të gjitha drejtat e rezervuara.
