Lebanon municipal elections: Over 490 elections violations recorded

Over 490 elections violations were recorded during Sunday’s municipal and mukhtar elections in two southern Lebanese govern orates, according to the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE), an elections monitoring group

In the South Lebanon governorate, LADE said 22.9 percent of the violations were recorded in the Sidon district, 37.7 percent in the Jezzine district and 39.2 percent in the Tyre district.

As for the Nabatieh governorate, 29.5 percent of the violations recorded by LADE were in the Bint Jbeil district, 30.7 percent in the Hasbaya and Marjayoun districts combined and 39.5 percent in the Nabatieh districts.

LADE’s report said violations were ongoing during the polls, such as bribes, rampant chaos in polling stations, pressure on voters by opposing candidates and candidates campaigning on election day.

It even said that monitors from the association were dismissed “for violating its Charter of Honor,” while other monitors were harassed by employees at some polling stations and even kicked out.

The polls on Sunday were the third round of Lebanon’s municipal elections, which kicked off on May 8 in Beirut and east Lebanon and are expected to finish on May 29 in north Lebanon.

The ministry of Interior reported that the final vote turnout for south Lebanon polls is 48.15%