Haiti May Delay Key National Election

[Eugene]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-531...

Haiti May Delay Key National Election


Saturday October 1, 2005 2:31 AM

By ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU

Associated Press Writer

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Haiti is struggling to organize its Nov.
20 elections and may have to postpone the balloting for a second time,
an elections official said Friday.

Patrick Fequiere, one of nine members of the Provisional Electoral
Council, said it may be necessary to delay the first round of the
elections until late December or January to give authorities time to
prepare ballots, distribute voter identification cards and set up
polling sites. The vote would be the first since a rebellion forced
the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004.

"The electoral calendar is too tight," Fequiere said. "I'm convinced
we will have to postpone."

<snip>

Haiti's constitution requires the new government to take control on
Feb. 7, but it is a complex task because of the country's poor
infrastructure, violence that makes it difficult to register voters
in some parts of the country and the size of the ballot.

<snip>

full article

[daleo]

1. They are having trouble rigging elections, I guess.

"He said it might also be necessary for the United Nations and Organization of American States, which are already providing assistance, to step in and manage the vote because the electoral council lacks enough trained staff and equipment."