Peru Election Official Arrested for Alleged Voting Process Negligence
Peruvian police detained José Edilberto Samamé Blas on Monday. He is the former electoral management chief at the Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales (ONPE).
Arrest and allegations
Authorities accuse Samamé Blas of omission of official acts during Sunday’s general elections. The Police said the arrest responds quickly to events that harm public administration.
The announcement appeared on the Police’s Facebook account. Filmogaz.com asked ONPE about his current status and legal representation.
Election day disruptions
The elections were marked by delays opening several polling centers. ONPE attributed the problem to logistical failures delivering electoral materials.
Officials said the incidents affected 0.072% of centers nationwide. The delays drew complaints from candidates and voters.
Measures taken
The Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) extended ballot reception by one hour. The JNE also allowed 13 polling centers in Lima Metropolitana to open on Monday.
Two voting locations in the United States were also authorized to install on Monday. Local outlets reported that Samamé Blas resigned Sunday night, taking responsibility for the failures.
Results and political impact
Peru held votes for president, senators, deputies, and representatives to the Andean Parliament. Early ONPE tallies on Monday morning showed frontrunners for a runoff.
- Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular): nearly 17%.
- Rafael López Aliaga (Renovación Popular): just over 14%.
Some voters who returned to vote on Monday said they had changed their choices after seeing the initial results. The situation and the arrest have added pressure on electoral authorities.
The episode, often referenced in headlines such as Peru Election Official Arrested for Alleged Voting Process Negligence, remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet disclosed Samamé Blas’s plea.
