Following up on the efforts of the observers of The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development—REFORM, where, since the morning hours, they were spread out in the polling stations in different Governorates across the West Bank, in which they followed the course of Phase II of the 2021 elections of local bodies. The Association is proud of the efforts of the Central Elections Commission and the polling station committees and their rapid response to the monitoring teams and their observations. The voter turnout announced by the Central Elections Commission as of four o'clock was 39%, with a decrease in the turnout in major cities. The observers documented a number of violations, the most important of which are:
1. The continuation of electoral campaigning inside the polling stations without being monitored by the directors of the centers in the Governorates.
2. Big crowds in front of most polling stations, which hinders voters from reaching the polling stations.
3. The continued presence of candidates practicing electoral propaganda inside polling stations.
4. The emergence of problems amongst the representatives of electoral lists, as what happened in Ithna.
5. High rates of political illiteracy, such as what happened at the school in Ya'bad, where observers noticed the presence of dozens of people claiming illiteracy.
6. Although the Central Elections Commission announced and confirmed that centers are suitable for people with disabilities, some places were not suitable, such as the primary school in Dura in Hebron.
The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development—REFORM calls on the Central Elections Commission to extend voting hours, in light of the low general voter turnout at the national level, in order to ensure that citizens are given their right to vote and that polling day is not declared an official holiday.
The Association also appreciates the efforts of the security services, and their response in controlling the public inside the polling stations. It also calls on the security services to strengthen their presence in front of the polling stations in anticipation of an increase in voter turnout in the last hours at the stations to ensure the continued control of the public during the voting process.
The Association also invites the electoral lists to spread the spirit of positive competition and not to mobilize supporters. In addition, REFORM invites the holders of the right to vote, especially young people, to exercise their right to vote before the end of the elections.
