Two delegates arrested in Peru elections for marking 90 ballots

Peruvian authorities apprehended two election observers on Sunday for allegedly marking 90 ballots at a polling station in Lima. The incident occurred during the second round of the presidential election, where the race is expected to be exceptionally tight.

Roberto Burneo, president of the National Elections Jury (JNE), confirmed the arrests, stating that the individuals were "personeros" (representatives) from one of the political parties. He emphasized that marking ballots is an electoral crime subject to criminal penalties. Burneo noted that 50 of the marked ballots were immediately replaced with contingency materials.

Local media reports indicated that the marked ballots favored Fuerza Popular, the party of right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori. The Public Ministry also reported a separate incident of marked ballots at another polling center in the La Molina district of Lima. In response, prosecutors documented the event and sealed the affected materials.

This electoral process is a runoff between Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, and left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez, who represents jailed former President Pedro Castillo. Peru is choosing its ninth president in ten years, a period characterized by significant political instability and frequent presidential dismissals.

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That incident has already been reported, measures have already been taken through the prosecutor for the prevention of crime. They have been two representatives who have already been arrested, the number of invalidated ballots is 90.