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On Wednesday, Citizen Victory Movement (MVC) Rep. Mariana Nogales Molinelli vocally opposed State Elections Commission (SEC) Alternate Chairwoman Jessika Padilla Rivera for directing SEC staff not to consider the write-in votes for at-large House positions.
“It’s astonishing that the chair of the State Elections Commission has issued instructions that conflict with discussions held with the commissioners,” the legislator remarked in a video shared on her social media. “I believe I will show up there, and the uproar is going to be so significant that the police should be ready to arrest me. I am fed up with the deceit. I am tired of the incompetence.”
In her remarks, expressing her frustration over the directives she claimed were given at the SEC, she indicated that within 30 minutes of delivering her comments via live video, she would be arriving at SEC headquarters.
“You will have to pay attention to me,” she asserted.
The examination of the post-election results began on Tuesday; however, the process was halted due to a dispute concerning the ballot counting.
As per a document shared by Nogales, the SEC guidelines state that only box 10 will be included in the count, which pertains to the at-large Senate seat. In this election, where at least 82,467 votes were counted, Nogales’ Senate counterpart, Rafael Bernabe, and environmental advocate Eliezer Molina contested each other. Either Bernabe or Molina could secure a seat if, during the tally, they garner more than 57,555 votes, the total achieved by Roxanna I. Soto Aguilú of the New Progressive Party (NPP), who ranks in the 11th and final position for those advancing to hold at-large seats.
In the race for at-large House positions, approximately 29,145 votes were recorded, a total that, even if awarded entirely to Nogales Molinelli, would still fall short of progression. By midday Wednesday, the 11th position was held by José Aponte Hernández of the NPP with 62,863 votes.
