Medellín Mall Voting Center Returns to Original Location After Complaints

Medellín's Sandiego shopping mall will revert its presidential election polling station to its traditional street-level location following widespread complaints and logistical problems during the first round of voting. The National Registry confirmed the decision to move the polling site back from the mall's 11th floor.

During the first round, hundreds of voters experienced significant congestion and logistical difficulties on the 11th floor. The National Registry's delegate for Antioquia, Diego Alberto Sepúlveda Argaez, apologized for the inconvenience. He explained that the initial relocation to the 11th floor was intended to protect voters from inclement weather, following a heavy downpour during a previous election day.

However, the move proved counterproductive, causing severe congestion that hindered the voting process. Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez, who had formally requested a review of the decision on June 2, celebrated the return to the ground floor. He emphasized that the street-level location will significantly improve access for thousands of citizens, particularly the elderly and individuals with reduced mobility, who were most affected by the elevated polling station.

To mitigate the weather concerns that prompted the initial change, the Registry announced that the polling station will be set up outdoors but will feature adequate tent infrastructure to shield voters. This measure aims to ensure the voting process proceeds smoothly and without the physical barriers encountered previously for the upcoming second round of presidential elections. Election authorities also confirmed that logistics for the second round in Antioquia remain stable, with 14,309 poll workers assigned.

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The polling station of San Diego returns to the first floor for the second round of presidential elections. Last June 2, I requested the Registry to resolve the situation that occurred in the first round. Thanks to citizen complaints and the request we made...