AP is reporting that Rene Preval's total has fallen juuuust under the 50% needed to prevent a runoff election. Haiti is nearing the explosion point where even troops will not hold the lid on.
Here's the interesting thing:
About 125,000 ballots - or 7.5 percent of the votes cast - have been declared invalid because of irregularities, raising suspicion among Preval supporters that polling officials are trying to steal the election. Another 4 percent of the ballots were blank but were still added into the total, making it harder Preval to obtain the 50 percent plus one vote needed.
Here's the math:
Exit polls: Preval 63%
Less spoiled votes: -7.5%
Less bizarre blank ballots: -4%
_______
50.5%
So.... how did they steal the extra 1%?
# posted by
Charles @ 2/12/2006 08:41:00 PM