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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Mexican Decision 2010: Polls Will Be Open Despite Resignations |
| 2010-07-04 |
| Google Translate Even with the mass resignations of more than 2,000 election workers in Tamaulipas, Mexican election officials say the July 4th election will take place today, say Mexican news reports. Electoral Institute of Tamaulipas revealed Thursday that more than 2,000 election workers in Reynosa, Tampico and Ciudad Madero resigned fearing violence in their precincts. Francisco Javier Tejeda Sanchez, president of the Reynosa Municipal Elections, said that a total of 3,725 people are needed for the 745 boxes to be installed in this border city. Although 140 applicants have submitted resignations, Tejeda Sanchez said the polls will be open from 8 am. Officials have strengthened security in Tamaulipas and have added prohibition against alcohol starting Saturday morning. The resignations are a response to the murder of Tamaulipas gubernatorial candidate Rudolfo Torre Cantu Wednesday by apparent elements of organzed crime. The murder has shaken election officials throughout the region. The president of the Municipal Electoral Council of Tampico, Maria Raquel Nieto Mar, said the 577 resignations that have occurred represent five percent of the 11,415 individuals will act as polling officials. Mar Nieto said, "There are citizens who themselves are determined and have seen it as a challenge, is directly expressed, how, then take part without fear." In Ciudad Madero, approximately 2,000 officials must participate in the upcoming elections on July 4. But, 377 resigned because of security concerns, said the chairman of the Electoral Institute of Tamaulipas Ciudad Madero, José Baldomero Castro Villalobos. |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #1 Hey, the US DOJ coulda sent 'em some New Black Panthers to supply poll security... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2010-07-04 10:19 |