The Electoral Census of the Registry removed two mayoral candidates who registered for the October elections using the signatures of prisoners, dead people, and thousands of nonexistent voters, Colombian media reported Monday.
After an investigation, the registrar general found that Susana Correa and former Cali Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero did not have enough legitimate signatures to meet the candidacy requirement.
The newspaper El Espectador reported that Guerrero had 7,000 signatures from nonexistent constituents, 122 from prisoners, and another 29 from dead people.
The registrar also found Correa used the signatures of 5,000 made-up voters, 190 from people who have died, as well as 150 prisoners.
While both former candidates disagreed with the decision, Correa decided to officially withdraw her candidacy. Guerrero, on the other hand, argued that the Registry “misused statistics” in determining the validity of his signatures.
It is unknown whether Guerrero will appeal the decision.