Count failure mires Ecuador election

[bemildred]

The probable candidates in Ecuador's presidential runoff vote have begun trading blows, but the collapse of the electoral counting system means some votes are yet to be counted and has angered voters.

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However, counting had to be suspended on Sunday with only 70 per cent of the ballots counted, after a vote-counting system that cost $5m broke down.

On Monday, election officials sacked E-Vote, the Brazilian company responsible for the system.

Correa had been leading in the early count before the computers crashed. Once counting resumed, Correa found himself behind and cried foul.

al Jazeera

Sounds like Mexico and Peru.

[Benhurst]

1. Gosh, I never thought I live to see the day there would be

American-style elections in Ecuador.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Our right-wing interests want to make sure Ecuador doesn't get a chance

to elect a man who represents the very poor vast majority.

They will do whatever it takes to prevent it. Rafael Correa has already indicated he's not interested in being at the disposal of _{George W. Bush,} and said Chavez is wrong to compare _Bush to Satan, as it's an unforgiveable insult to Satan himself.

He already has laid out his plans for Ecuador's economic future, and there's no room whatsoever for American meddling and exploitation. Ecuadorians first.

That means the right-wing is going to try everything to keep him from being elected.

[Mudoria]

3. Yep

every election some leftist loses or finds him/herself behind it's a right wing conspiracy to steal an election. Topics like this on DU are as predictable as the sun rising. Sometimes you actually do lose because you were outvoted. Before crying it's better to wait till the situation is investigated or better reported (maybe from a better source than the one linked here).

[Judi Lynn]

4. Ecuador's Noboa, Correa tied in early official count

Ecuador's Noboa, Correa tied in early official count
Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:01am ET

QUITO, Ecuador, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Ecuadorean presidential candidate Alvaro Noboa has 25.2 percent of votes and leftist Rafael Correa 25.03 percent with 40 percent of ballot boxes officially counted nationwide, election authorities said on Tuesday.

Preliminary results based on a quick count of ballot boxes showed on Monday that Noboa had 26.6 percent and Correa 22.4 percent with more than 70 percent counted. The two candidates are set for a second round run-off on Nov. 26.
(snip/)

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-10-17T150121Z_01_N17222124_RTRIDST_0_ECUADOR-ELECTION-URGENT.XML

[Judi Lynn]

5. UPDATE 1-Ecuador's Noboa, Correa tied in early official count

UPDATE 1-Ecuador's Noboa, Correa tied in early official count
Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:30am ET

QUITO, Ecuador, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Ecuadorean presidential candidate Alvaro Noboa had 25.2 percent of votes and leftist former finance minister Rafael Correa had 25.03 percent with 40 percent of ballot boxes officially counted nationwide, election authorities said on Tuesday.

Noboa, who is one of Ecuador's wealthiest men and favors closer ties with Washington, scored an upset over Correa, an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in Sunday's vote, but neither won outright, according to preliminary results on Monday.

Initial results based on a quick count of ballot boxes showed on Monday that Noboa had 26.6 percent and Correa 22.4 percent with more than 70 percent counted. The two candidates are set for a second round run-off on Nov. 26.

The slight difference between the initial results and early exit polls, which showed Noboa ahead, and the electoral court's early official nationwide count, could fuel complaints about possible irregularities from Correa's supporters.

Electoral authorities late on Monday suspended preliminary counting after ending a contract with a Brazilian company hired to conduct the tally because of delays and technical problems. That prompted about two hundred Correa supporters to rally outside the election court building to protest fraud.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-10-17T153052Z_01_N17228061_RTRIDST_0_ECUADOR-ELECTION-UPDATE-1.XML

[BrotherBuzz]

6. James Baker III, to The White Courtesy Phone, please

I'm just saying...:shrug: