Cell phones and Cameras Banned at Polling Stations in Colombia, with Some Exceptions
To prevent certain electoral crimes on next Sunday’s voting day in Colombia, when the President of the Republic will be elected, the national Government issued a decree prohibiting the use of cell phones and photographic or video cameras at polling stations and voting tables. The measure, however, includes specific exceptions.
The government’s announcement, made this Tuesday, June 16, through Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, is in line with recommendations that had been issued to citizens in recent days by the National Civil Registry and the Office of the Inspector General. Both entities reminded voters of the prohibition of these devices, especially inside voting booths, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during the presidential runoff election on June 21.
The restriction is intended to prevent the commission of electoral crimes such as voter corruption and vote trafficking, as established in Articles 390 and 390A of the Colombian Criminal Code.
Cell phone allowed to display digital ID card
However, as an exception, duly identified media outlets and officials from the Public Ministry (Inspector General’s Office, Ombudsman’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, and municipal ombudsmen) who have been designated to perform electoral oversight duties on election day or who must carry out functions within their official competencies will be permitted to use these devices.
In addition, the use of cell phones by Colombians will only be allowed for the purpose of showing election officials their digital citizenship ID card when exercising their right to vote.
Regarding the authority to monitor and observe the democratic process held by duly accredited electoral witnesses and authorized electoral observers, it is specified that the use of cell phones and photographic or video cameras will be permitted starting at 4:00 p.m.
The measure seeks to reduce the risks of voter coercion and guarantee that citizens can exercise their right to vote freely. “It is prohibited to take a photo of your ballot,” Minister Sanchez said during a press conference while presenting the security measures planned for election day.
The provision is part of a broader set of actions adopted by the Government to protect the transparency of the process. “No one can take a photo of the ballot they cast. That somehow helps eliminate the risk of coercion,” Sanchez added.
In previous elections, illegal groups demanded photographic proof
“The closer we get to the elections, the more emotion gains strength over reason,” Sanchez said, calling on citizens to maintain a climate of respect during the democratic process. “We invite all Colombians to demonstrate exemplary behavior. Let ideas prevail rather than insults, let the results be respected, let democracy win, and let Colombia win.”
He emphasized that the armed forces will act within their constitutional and legal powers to guarantee the proper conduct of the elections. “The security forces are very clear about their constitutional mission and obey the Constitution and the law,” he warned, although this is precisely one of the most urgent appeals citizens are making to the military and the police: that they respect and enforce the Constitution.
The authorities’ concern is based on situations that occurred during previous electoral processes, in which armed groups and criminal organizations demanded photographic proof of ballots to verify compliance with voting instructions in certain regions of the country.
At the same time that the Government announced it would strengthen its digital monitoring capabilities in response to possible disinformation campaigns or incidents that could affect the conduct of the elections, the National Civil Registry reported that voting already taking place abroad was proceeding normally.
“Elections abroad have taken place without incident in the different countries where Colombia has diplomatic representation,” National Registrar Hernan Penagos reported.