Final results for Malawi’s election may take up to two months. The electoral commission has admitted flaws during the vote and ordered a recount in some areas. “We envisage that the vote audit may take us not more than two months to conclude,” Chimkwita Phiri from Malawi’s electoral commission announced. The commission ordered a recount of the votes after admitting that there had been irregularities in the counting process. “There are cases being discovered where the total number of votes cast is more than the total registered voters for the centre,” read a statement by the chairman of the Malawi Electoral Commission, Maxon Mbendera. He told members of the press that his staff would nevertheless complete the current vote counting, but that the results would not be announced until the electoral commission comes to a final conclusion.
Malawi held its elections on Tuesday, May 20. The voting process itself was marred by logistical difficulties, as up to 4,000 polling stations did not receive their ballot papers on time. The initial 12 hour voting period had to be extended to the next day, as many Malawians were not able to vote on time.
President Joyce Banda has performed poorly according to preliminary results.
On Friday May 23, Malawi’s incumbent President Joyce Banda insisted that the elections should be declared “null and void” due to serious irregularities.
Full Article: allAfrica.com: Malawi’s Chaotic Election Set for Recount.
