Following detected irregularities, votes from several polling stations have been recounted. The Independent Electoral Bureau (OKB) has ordered recounts for the Wanica and Nickerie wards. The recount of 16 polling stations in Nickerie began Monday evening; Wanica followed this morning.
At each recount, the following are compulsorily present: the chairperson and committee members of the polling station, inspectors from the OKB, officials from the Central Chief Voting Station (CHS), representatives of the police as well as external observers. During the three-stage validation process at the main polling stations, several critical discrepancies surfaced, both in the numerical processing and in the administrative recording. Various political parties filed complaints and compared their own turf forms with the official records of the polling stations: this comparison showed no match in many cases.
It was also revealed that the results of several dozen polling stations had not yet been uploaded. Validation has been slower than anticipated, in part because the hired staff is largely made up of newcomers and has limited practical experience. At the main polling station in Wanica, where Starnieuws was on site, OKB inspectors had to repeatedly give tutoring instructions to the inspection team.
International observers, including delegations from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU), have commented positively on the professional handling of the process and the transparency of the recounts. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain to what extent these recounts and outstanding processing will affect the national seat dashboard and the balance of power.
