Local Elections: 2 Million “White” Votes, 12 Millions Algerians Did Not Vote

The percentage of canceled papers in the local elections on Thursday was 2.5 million votes that contribute to raising the participation rate in the local elections and refused to choose their elected, as the participation rate reached 46.63% for the municipal popular councils and 44.96% for the state councils, and the number of canceled papers reached 2.100.000 votes, and the canceled papers in the state councils reached 1,488,966.

However, 12 million Algerians did not choose their representatives at the level of local elected councils, whether municipal or state.

Interior Minister, Noureddine Badoui, underestimated the value of skirmishes that were recorded in some polling centers and offices, and considered it the best participation rate compared to the local elections of 2012 and 2007, but at the same time he expressed the authority’s concern about the phenomenon of canceled papers or what is known as white votes, although they reflect a positive boycott this time in favor of the participation rate.

He considered the results of Tuesday’s elections for the renewal of the municipal and state councils “very positive” compared to the previous ones. 

He explained during the press conference during which he announced the preliminary results of the local councils that the initial participation rate that was recorded in November 23 elections was “much higher” than the one that was recorded in 2007 and 2012, referring it to the work of the candidates, which gave results on the ground.

He praised the calm that characterized the campaign speech and included the participation rate in the response to the calls of desperation. 

At the same time, Badoui played down the value of the quarrels and skirmishes that took place in some polling stations and offices during the electoral process, asserting that these skirmishes do not effect the ballot’s results. 

“Some municipalities experienced partial or total destruction at the level of some polling stations and centers, which is only due to skirmishes and competition, where necessary action has been taken.” 

“The presence of representatives of political parties in polling stations amounted to more than 271.000 representatives, which is 76% of the total number that was programmed.

In response to Echorouk Newspaper’s question, regarding the increase in the number of canceled papers or the white vote, which rose from 1.7 million votes in May’s past legislative elections to about 2.5 million votes in the locale elections, and the target of this category, Badoui said that the phenomenon really needs a deep study.

“Interior Ministry is studying these projects in addition to the workshops it is working on, especially the amendment of the legislative framework that governs the local communities, namely the municipal and state legal amendments, which will ensure the allocation of new areas to the elected officials, especially local taxation law that will revive the incomes of local groups as they can provide the service to the citizen and local development.

As for the imbalances in some polling stations and offices where some voters did not find their names in the lists of voting offices that were carried by their cards, a defect that was not even handed to the President of the Council of the Nation, Abdelkader Ben Saleh and state officials and political figures, the minister said that the imbalance was due to regulatory actions that have been placed with respect to the electorate in order to bring voters closer to polling stations, especially with the re-housing process, which led to the opening of new polling stations and offices that necessitated the conversion of some citizens to other lists.

Interior Minister preferred to present a political reading in the results of the elections. He said: “today Algeria is doubting the certainty that it is on the right track.” 

“This vote proves Algeria’s determination to continue to consolidate the state institutions and respect the rules of democracy through the elected institutions, in accordance with the people’s will as defined by the Constitution and the law”, asserting that “the citizen expressed rejection of all the desperate calls, noting that “the return of Algeria back did not happen and will never happen”.