Even after making efforts this week to advance the counting of the early vote at the island level, the State Election Commission (EEC) project that the general scrutiny will extend at least until December 27th.
The President of the EEC, Francisco Rosado Colomer, indicated that as of this week each regular polling station is working at least five briefcases daily, while those of the Absent and Early Voting Administrative Board (JAVA) they must complete three. Also, the rule is removed that after 3:00 pm no new briefcases will be opened on the tables.
“We need to produce suitcases, what has been decided as a final signature is that this Saturday is not working, taking into account that officials have to make arrangements that the domains, by executive order, is not allowed. On December 25 (December) he is not going to work. The 24, although available, could be unproductive. On (Saturday) 26, no decision was made. We hope not to have to do it “, said Rosado Colomer.
Originally, the EEC projected to end the scrutiny between 15 and 20 December.
The president continues, if the goal of five daily briefcases per regular table and three per JAVA table is met, “we could be 27 (or) 28 finishing the poll, as early as possible. The Aggregate in Hand area is being removed because they have already finished the work. You have already deleted files and computers. This is to give me more information. If (the parties) bring me the officials, maybe we could get ahead. “
Despite a tight schedule to complete before the end of the year and allow the certification of candidates before January 2, 2021, Rosado Colomer will raise that he does not glimpse a scenario in which the oaths of elected officials had to be postponed.
“It simply came to our notice then. We are working to avoid that scenario, “said Rosado Colomer.
This week, the EEC decided that the moons would only work in the early voting units, which until that day had been limited to the precincts of San Juan, where the results were not yet left with the number of voters. The same strategy will be used next Monday.
The EEC press office reported that the scrutiny of 114 early voting suitcases, corresponding to seals 21 to 31 of the senatorial district of Arecibo, had been completed.
Today, it is indicated that the scrutiny of regular tables reached Juana Díaz, which contains seals 63 and 64.
In total, Puerto Rico is divided into 110 seals.
Although he has not made a final and firm decision, Rosado Colomer explained that he is considering waiting for the general scrutiny to culminate in issuing all certifications to the winners. If they opt for this alternative, they will not be issuing these documents gradually, as they are thought at a given time.
“Certification has never been done before the polls close, but I also see no reason in the law not to do so. Not always what is always done is what is right, but to vary it than to do a careful analysis, because there could be a reason to do so. If I had made it (the decision) I would have said it. There are things to consider and we cannot take it lightly”I said.
Soon, the judge will also have to decide whether to proceed with the request of the Citizen Victory Movement (MVC) to count the 77 units of early voting in San Juan, which would imply additional responsibility for the EEC at times when it does not have much room for error.
Political parties have until today to present their positions on the MVC proposal, but Rosado Colomer has already advanced that his decision will not be announced, at least, until tomorrow Thursday.
The EEC has not yet announced the end of the municipal appeal in Guànica, at the same time that we will also have to count the restraint by the mayorship of Snake and the representative district 31.