WILLEMSTAD - Photographing a voting ballot is prohibited. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) indicated this again. The measure has been instituted to prevent voting fraud. In addition, a 'proof photo' of the voting choice is often required in order to be able to collect money.
Elections for the new parliament of Curaçao will take place on March 19, 2021. The various political parties are campaigning to obtain as many votes as possible to have representation in Parliament.
For years there has been talk of selling votes in exchange for money, goods or favors in Curaçao. In a press release, the Public Prosecution Service makes a point to combat voting fraud.
"Free, secret and fair elections form the basis of the democratic constitutional state. The importance of this is laid down in the Constitution and in international treaties. A voter has the right to cast his vote without any influence and the choice of which political party or candidate is a secret," according to the Public Prosecution Service.
The Public Prosecution Service reports that under the Criminal Code, buying votes or selling your vote can be punished with a prison sentence of up to two years.
The Electoral Regulations stipulate in art. 68a that taking photographs of the ballot during voting in the polling station is prohibited. The Public Prosecution Service will continue to monitor the free and fair conduct of the elections.