Santo Domingo, February 16 (RHC)-- The municipal elections in Santo Domingo, the first that are held separately from the general elections since 1968, began with delays and failures in the automated voting system, resulting in a suspension of elections on Sunday.

Dozens of polling stations nationwide continue to present delays at the beginning of the voting process two after the formal start of the elections.  The members of the JCE met with the delegates of the political parties accredited to that institution, trying to find a solution to the long delays that have arisen at the beginning of the municipal election.

Eduardo Jorge Mera announced this morning that only in 12% of the municipalities with automated voting have initiated the process due to incidents that have occurred with the equipment and the system.  "Only 12% of municipalities with automated voting have been able to operate, the teams do not have all the candidates on the ballot," said the leader of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM).

Complaints were expressed in different voting centers that some parties do not appear at the time of voting and in others certain candidates do not appear.  Technicians from different parties have denounced the problem and hope it will be resolved as soon as possible.

A total of 7,487,040 Dominicans were called to the polls on Sunday to elect about 3,849 positions between mayors and councilors in the country's 158 municipalities, according to data from the Central Electoral Board.