Power outages and political disputes disrupt voting in Peru and Paraguay

Electoral processes in Tacna, Peru, and Belén, Paraguay, have faced logistical challenges due to power outages and political disputes.

In Tacna, an unexpected electricity outage occurred at the Gregorio Albarracín school in the Rosa Ara neighborhood during the early hours of the election. The disruption, reportedly caused by a vehicle hitting a utility pole, forced election officials to set up eight voting tables for approximately 2,400 voters without lighting. While power was restored in nearby areas, the school remained without electricity during the initial setup phase, though officials proceeded with the installation of voting tables.

In Belén, Paraguay, municipal elections were delayed due to conflicts regarding the formation of voting tables. Members of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) were unable to reach polling stations at the Carlos A. López and Teófilo Miranda schools due to bad weather and power outages. This led to disputes when representatives from the Colorado Party attempted to fill the vacant positions. The situation required intervention from electoral prosecutors and the National Police to manage tensions between candidates Dani Cubilla and Blas Medina.