Peru’s presidential and congressional elections faced a significant disruption this weekend due to logistical failures, prompting the National Office of Electoral Process (ONPE) to extend voting into a second day. The extension came after a private contractor failed to provide necessary ballots to several polling stations across Lima, affecting more than 52,000 voters. The Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE), the country’s top electoral authority, approved the extraordinary voting session at affected centers in the districts of Lurin, Pachacamac, and San Juan de Miraflores.
The situation not only impacted domestic voting but also extended to Peruvian citizens voting abroad in locations such as Orlando, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey. The JNE enforced a ban on publishing election results, exit polls, or quick counts until the completion of all voting activities. Despite this, preliminary results had already surfaced, showcasing Keiko Fujimori of the Fuerza Popular party with a slight lead, which raised concerns about electoral fairness and the principle of unity of the electoral act. More details on the challenges faced during the election can be found at JURIST.
Piero Corvetto, head of ONPE, attributed the delivery failures to Servicios Generales Galaga, the transport contractor. Corvetto publicly apologized and announced impending legal action against the company. In response, Galaga defended its position, claiming that the delays were due to factors beyond their control and mentioned plans to sue ONPE for reputational damages.
This logistical debacle prompted a swift institutional response. Investigations into the electoral process delays were initiated as Peru’s Public Ministry and National Police executed a raid on ONPE’s headquarters. Additionally, the JNE lodged a criminal complaint against multiple ONPE officials and Galaga’s representative for possible obstruction of the electoral process. Lawmakers from Peru’s Congressional Oversight Committee also summoned key figures, including Corvetto and JNE President Roberto Burneo, to provide testimony.
Electoral participation in Peru is mandatory for citizens between 18 and 70 years old, with fines imposed for non-compliance. In this particular election, over 27 million Peruvians were eligible to vote for both a new president and, notably, a bicameral Congress for the first time in over three decades. Early voting results indicated Fujimori in the lead but falling short of the 50 percent threshold required to secure an outright win, making a runoff likely.
This electoral event unfolds amid heightened national challenges, with Peru grappling with rising violent crime and persistent political instability, having witnessed nine presidential transitions within the last decade. The extension of voting and the accompanying controversies may further exacerbate tensions and pose challenges for the future of democratic processes in the country.