Election Commission Accepts Findings of Systemic Failures but Notes Shortages Hit Only 26 of 14,288 Stations

The National Election Commission on June 22 accepted the results of a weeklong investigation that identified systemic problems in its management of the June 3 local elections. The commission said it accepts the findings "with a heavy heart" and will pursue fundamental institutional improvements to protect voters' rights.

Commission members agreed at a meeting to submit the fact-finding committee's report to a joint prosecution-police team examining ballot shortages.

They also decided to seek disciplinary measures against those responsible, in line with a separate ongoing audit. The fact-finding committee concluded that the National Election Commission requires sweeping reforms equivalent to dismantlement. Its investigation found that 140 of the country's 14,288 polling stations requested and received extra ballot papers after anticipating shortages.

Of those stations, 91 used the additional ballots, while voting was temporarily disrupted at 26 locations. The committee announced its results on June 19, three days before the commission's statement.