TFHO1: EMBASSY TEAMS REPORT ON ELECTIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001277 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM HO SUBJECT: TFHO1: EMBASSY TEAMS REPORT ON ELECTIONS ¶1. (U) Summary. This cable provides analysis on the teams deployed by the Embassy throughout Honduras to witness and report back on the general election of November 29, 2009. Embassy teams reported that the vote count at the polling stations they visited went smoothly with few nullified ballots, but some polling stations visited encountered difficulties in reporting the results of the presidential race to the TSE on election day. Embassy teams reported that many polling stations opened late, but generally no more than an hour late. They frequently encountered domestic observers. Embassy teams reported overall excitement on the part of voters and appreciation for embassy teams' presence. The teams noted that the electoral process overall was undertaken in an ambiance of freedom, and that the voting was done in a fair, transparent and peaceful manner. ¶2. (U) Embassy Tegucigalpa sent 39 individuals in 20 technical reporting teams to 16 of the country's 18 departments to witness and report back on the general election that took place on November 29, 2009. In addition the Embassy deployed two two-person teams, composed of LES staff, in the capital of Tegucigalpa. Although each team's experience was unique, there were commonalities in what they observed. ¶3. (U) The most common trend reported was that 77 percent of polling stations visited by the teams opened late. The polling stations opened 18 minutes late on average. At opening, 50 percent of the polling stations had 0-10 people waiting to vote. The average duration noted by teams for voting was six and a half minutes with the mode being four minutes. ¶4. (U) Embassy teams encountered international observers only in the cities of Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Danli, La Ceiba and Roatan. However, domestic observers were present at nearly every polling site visited by the Embassy teams; the most noticeable group was the USAID-funded civil society coalition "Hagamos Democracia." ¶5. (U) Most polling stations had representation from the five political parties. On some occasions, a member was missing from one of the three small parties: the Social Democratic Innovation and Unity Party (PINU),the Christian Democratic Party (DC),or the Democratic Unification Party (UD). However, rarely would there be more that one of those parties absent from the polling station. Political propaganda was seen in all communities visited, but the propaganda was not found inside any polling centers. ¶6. (U) Another commonality was the presence of stations near the polling stations manned by representatives from the two major political parties, the National Party and the Liberal Party. The representatives at these stations guided voters to their respective polling stations and in many cases, suggested candidates for whom they should vote, as is permitted by Honduran Electoral Law. ¶7. (U) Around 15:00 local time on election day the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE),the body entrusted with running elections in Honduras, announced that it was extending the closing time of the polling stations from 16:00 to 17:00 local time. Most polling stations received this message. However, at closing there was confusion at some sites regarding the implementation on the TSE's new electoral transparency rule during the vote counting process, which provides that the public can watch the vote count. In many locations, poll workers had to be reminded by TSE representatives and others to keep the doors and windows open to allow citizens to observe vote counting. Even after a reminder, many polling stations still kept the doors closed or blocked access to the rooms by using chairs or desks. A polling station in La Ceiba locked the front gate of the school and only allowed poll workers and observers with proper identification to stay inside to witness the process. Embassy teams reported that 38 percent of polling stations they viewed had no private citizens watching the poll counting. ¶8. (U) During the counting process there were a few disputes, but the majority of them were resolved. Each polling station reported an average of three null ballots, and of these, only a few ballots were considered intentionally nullified. The intentional nullifications of TEGUCIGALP 00001277 002 OF 002 ballots included the presence of words and phrases such as "Traitors," "The only President is Mel," or "Coup" on the ballots. ¶9. (U) The Process of calling the vote in via the rapid transmission of preliminary results (TREP) system proved to be difficult for some of the polling stations. The difficulties arose over confusion about how to use the phone provided by the TSE for this purpose in the voting kits. ¶10. (U) Almost all of the Embassy teams reported that the Honduran people were very excited to vote, they appreciated the presence of the Embassy teams and of observers, and they expressed their pride in their country. The teams noted that the electoral process overall was transparent and peaceful. LLORENS