The Central Election Commission (CEC) responded following the suspension of vote counting in South Mitrovica, clarifying that a technical error was observed on some batches of ballots during the printing of one element of the ballot – specifically, the polling station code.
In a press statement, the CEC noted that this issue was identified based on information received from the Municipal Election Commissions in Gjakova and South Mitrovica.
According to the statement, the CEC has communicated with the company responsible for printing the ballots, which acknowledged the possibility that the error occurred in the mechanical printer that stamps variable data. The company confirmed that it will provide an official clarification regarding this case in the coming days.
“It is important to emphasize that the total number of printed ballots has been accurately recorded. Furthermore, for each polling station, the printed ballots contain serial numbers on the main parts of the ballots, which fully correspond to the number of ballots received and verified so far at the Municipal Counting Centers in South Mitrovica and Gjakova,” the CEC statement reads.
The CEC also assured the public, voters, and all parties involved in the electoral process that this technical error does not affect the integrity of the voting or vote counting process.
“The ballots include multiple security features that ensure they cannot be falsified or copied,” the statement concluded.
