New York – Juan Zaragoza, candidate for governor of Puerto Rico for the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), had to vote manually on two of the ballots due to a mechanical failure in the machine that adjudicates the documents.
El Spokesman reported that the rival of the PPD president, Jesús Manuel Ortiz, went early in the morning to the Cedín School in San Juan to cast his vote.
When the candidate introduced the ballot for the gubernatorial candidates, it was processed without problems. However, when he inserted the ballots corresponding to the positions for the House and Senate, the machine did not accept them, according to images recorded by the newspaper.
The senator thought that the situation was due to the fact that he had marked on the edges of the box or space for the candidates. Zaragoza was supplied with new ballots, but they were also rejected. Finally, the popular candidate chose to enter the documents manually.
The local newspaper report adds that, at around 12:35 pm, the machine turned on again and processed the ballots.
“The machine went off the air, it turned off. Obviously, I extrapolated to the entire island, and thinking about the people who are in line, don’t let them get discouraged,” the senator explained to reporters at the place where he arrived accompanied by his partner, Keyliz Méndez, and his daughter. Paola.
Regarding the importance of electoral processes like the one in progress, Zaragoza considered that the PPD is losing its life in this election.
“I know that you have heard that speech before, but, in the political playing field that exists today in Puerto Rico, with these emerging parties that are no longer so emerging, the Popular Party cannot afford to lose three elections in a row,” said the former secretary of the Treasury Department.
“So they have to vote with conscience, and they have to vote, above all, thinking about which candidates can beat the PNP (New Progressive Party). In the case of the governorship, the only popular one who can beat the PNP is Juan Zaragoza,” he pointed out.
The results of the most recent El Nuevo poll, days before the primaries, showed that Ortiz would beat Zaragoza by a wide margin; specifically, 55% versus 44% of the votes.
Today, which began at 9 am and will last until 5 pm, Puerto Ricans affiliated with the PPD and the New Progressive Party (PNP) will decide in 109 races in which 247 candidates participate.
The candidates elected in this Sunday’s process will appear on the ballots for the general elections on November 5.
More from El Diario’s special coverage of the primaries in Puerto Rico this Sunday:
LUMA Energy confirms blackouts at voting centers in Puerto Rico in the middle of primaries
Primaries in Puerto Rico: gubernatorial candidate Jesús Manuel Ortiz assures that the PPD is in a position to win in November
Primaries in Puerto Rico: Jenniffer González campaign officials arrived at voting centers with proselytizing t-shirts
PNP and PPD primaries in Puerto Rico this Sunday: voters could receive up to 7 ballots
Primary elections in Puerto Rico: PNP and PPD candidacies for governor will be decided this Sunday