Colombia’s National Registrar’s Office said Saturday that voters should arrive to the polling stations early to avoid delays in Sunday’s congressional elections, reported national media.
“Its is very important given the nature of the climate that people get out early to vote,” Director of National Registrar’s Office Carlos Ariel Sanchez told RCN radio, “to avoid delays, locate your nearest polling station(…).”
The head of the office also told the El Pais newspaper that voting stations were set up in all parts of the country except for the country’s capital Bogota, where voting material was distributed in the early hours of Sunday under maximum security.
Sanchez also said that 8,500 biometric fingerprint-scanners have been put in place in the northern area of the country and in municipalities considered at risk of impersonation.
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According to the director, all internal communication is being finalized in order to avoid any issues Sunday with the voting and counting and noted that four simulation strategies in the counting process will “allow us to say that by 8PM we will have 70% of results and be able to outline the Senate.”
Furthermore, he said that although there is a risk of hackers trying to attack the voting systems, “There have been many steps and measures taken to backup servers.”
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Sanchez will personally be present in Bogota’s Corferias convention center, where “he electoral organization will present distinct types of results. On the screens you will be able to see and follow the results of the pre-count.”
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Citizens can find their nearest polling station on the National Registrar’s Office’s, www.registraduria.gov.co
Voting opened at 8AM and will close at 4PM, with results expected to be reported prior to 8PM local time. Armed security details and independent electoral observers are already stationed throughout the country.