How Preval might change Haiti (info on vote tabulation "problems")

[mom cat]

What is the issue with "blank ballots"?
I totally fail to see how people stood in lines for hours, some lines longer than a mile and then did not mark their ballot? Ring any bells?

Posted on Sun, Feb. 12, 2006
HAITIAN ELECTION How Preval might change Haiti

On the cusp of winning Haiti's presidency without a runoff, René Preval now must step out of the shadow of his mentor, former leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide.BY JOE [e-mail]
MARMELADE, Haiti -
The man Haitians overwhelmingly picked to lead their country out of turmoil is a quiet agronomist of modest means, average human frailties and a hint of mischief -- a notable contrast to the hubris and burning rhetoric that has defined Haiti's bloody history.
René Préval, 63, entered the race long after the other well-known candidates. The man who was president from 1996 to 2001 made no campaign promises. He did not attack his opponents. And he only recently began speaking publicly.
On Saturday, the official tally gave him 49.6 percent of the votes, with 72 percent of the stations counted. But foreign electoral officials said an independent survey showed Préval received 54 percent of the vote, although the survey has yet to be adjusted for blank ballots, which could reduce each candidate's percentage points slightly.
Préval supporters marched past the National Palace to proclaim his victory. The second-place candidate, former President Leslie Manigat, had a mere 11.58 percent. But with 32 contenders in the race, electoral officials couldn't say whether Préval got the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff.

More at:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13851628.htm

[paineinthearse]

1. Ring any bells?

Sounds like Ohio.

[mom cat]

3. Sure as well does, as well as Florida in 2000. Something smells to high

heavens. The vote was supposed to be counted on Friday, then Saturday, and now they are saying Sunday.
Frankly, I cannot fathom anyone standing in a line for hours, some lines were over a mile long, and then not marking their ballot! This is so bogus. And then imagine enough people doing "blank ballots" to skew the results enough to throw the election into a runnoff!

[bemildred]

2. I will be pleasantly surprised if Preval is allowed to take power. nt

[Wordie]

4. K&R...thanks for informing us about this, momcat.

The Haitians have suffered enough. I am afraid I know nothing of this candidate, but my hopes are with the Haitian people, that the vote count is fair and democratic and that they find in Preval a good leader to lead them forward out of bloodshed and economic desperation.

[mom cat]

5. Most recent vote estimates: Preval at 49.1 % of vote. Just low enough to

require a runoff:
see the following, in French:
http://haitisupport.gn.apc.org/ab_who_main.html