Poll official sentenced to 4 years for stealing 261 ballots in 2026 election

A poll official in Arequipa, Peru, has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing 261 ballots during the second round of the 2026 General Elections on June 7. Miguel Tupayachi Rivera, the official in question, will serve his sentence through 208 days of community service after admitting his involvement.

The First Preparatory Investigation Court of the Arequipa Flagrancy Unit found Tupayachi guilty of the crime against the right to vote. During the hearing, he acknowledged his actions and agreed to an early termination of the proceedings, allowing the judge to issue the sentence within 48 hours. The court confirmed the ballots were recovered and their authenticity verified.

According to the prosecutor, Tupayachi took advantage of a moment of inattention from National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) staff at the polling station in Mariano Melgar district. He allegedly took an envelope containing the ballots to his home but returned them after being contacted by his coordinator. Tupayachi claimed he was mistreated by poll workers and an official from another political party.

Neither the prosecution nor the judicial branch specified Tupayachi's political affiliation, and his record shows no registered political affiliations. The judicial body emphasized that the theft did not impact the final election results, as the ballots had already been tallied.