Voting in the first round of December 24 local elections failed to take place in 26 constituencies, Mouakiboun said, contrary to figures advanced by the Independent High Authority for Elections (French : ISIE). The election commission said earlier it was impossible to hold polls in two districts, namely Borj El Khadhra and Galite Islands. President of Mourakiboun Slim Bouzid Monday told a press conference in Tunis voters cast their ballots in 2,129 electoral districts. Voting was not held in 24 constituencies as candidates failed to show up. Several offences were reported, mainly attempts to influence voters and campaigining in the vicinity of polling stations. The network also took note of the absence of representatives of candidates in 65% of polling places at their opening and during the polling day (44%). The general turnout rate did not exceed 11.8% (with a 0.8% margin of error). 3% of votes were spoilt ( a margin of error of 0.3%) and 1.6% blank (0.2% margin of error). Mourakiboun deployed 27 obse rvers in the process of sortition adopted for candidates with disabilities to 27 vote compilation centres. 11% of venues for sortition were not accessible for candidates with disabilities in Kairouan, Manounba and Kairouan. There were unaccredited persons in 19% of venues for selection by sortition. Sign language interpreters were deployed in only four venues in Jendouba, Sousse, Sidi Bouzid and Kébeli. The various mechanisms adopted to step up the pace of election campaign (public and private sector media, local and community radio stations) only targeted candidates among people with disabilities, the network further said. Election promises put forward by candidates have no legal foundation as there is no piece of legislation which sets out the prerogatives of local councils. This will undermine the credibility of these pledges. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
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