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The problems prompted electoral authorities to allow more than
52,000 residents of Peru’s capital, Lima, to vote on Monday. The
extension, announced after vote counting began Sunday evening,
also covers Peruvians registered to vote in Orlando, Florida,
and Paterson, New Jersey.
Authorities initially reported 63,300 people could vote Monday
but later revised down the figure.
Voting is mandatory for Peruvians from the ages of 18 to 70.
Failure to do so comes with a fine of up to $32.
A former minister, a comedian and a political heiress are among
35 candidates vying to become Peru’s ninth president in just 10
years.
The election comes amid a surge in violent crime and corruption
that has fueled widespread discontent among voters, who largely
view candidates as dishonest and unprepared for the presidency.
Many of the contenders have responded to the crime concerns with
wide-ranging proposals, including building megaprisons,
restricting food for prisoners and reinstating the death penalty
for serious crimes.
Nurse Heidy Justiniano had not decided who to vote for while
already in line outside a public school in Lima.
“There’s so much crime, so many robberies on every corner; a bus
driver was killed. What matters most to us right now is safety,
the lives of every person,” Justiniano, 33, said. “Politicians
don’t always keep their promises. This time, we have to choose
our president wisely so that he can improve Peru.”
More than 27 million people are registered to vote. Of those,
about 1.2 million cast ballots abroad, mainly in the United
States and Argentina.
A presidential candidate needs more than 50% of votes to win
outright. However, a runoff in June is virtually assured given
the deeply divided electorate and the pool of candidates, the
largest in the Andean country’s history.
Voters are also being asked to choose the members of a bicameral
Congress for the first time in more than 30 years, following
recent legislative reforms that concentrate significant power in
the new upper chamber.
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