Electoral observers estimated Monday that nearly 9% of polling stations in southern Bogota have seen an abnormal increase in the number of newly registered identification papers, indicating electoral fraud.
According to the Electoral Observation Mission (MOE), the number of new identification cards in 57 out of 489 south Bogota polling stations, most in the Bosa, Kennedy and Ciudad Bolivar localities, increased by between 52% and 311% over the past four years.
The figure far exceeded the National Planning Department’s estimate – based on census data – that the voter population actually grew between 8% and 15% since 2007.
“I don’t have much knowledge of electoral issues, and as the civil authority I abstain from making assumptions, but it seems to me that the issues reported by the MOE should be reviewed by the National Electoral Council (CNE),” Bogota Mayor Clara Lopez told W Radio.
Last week, the Council invalidated identification papers for more than 460,000 voters in an effort to prevent fraud on election day, October 30. The identification papers were cancelled because the paper holders did not live in the municipalities in which they had registered.