No proxy votes were recruited during the municipal elections in Bergen op Zoom. This is the conclusion of the Public Prosecution Service (OM) after an investigation.
Justice has checked the ballot papers of two polling stations in the East district. No ‘irregularities’ were found there. For example, according to the researchers, the permitted number of proxy votes per physical voter is not exceeded.
Witnesses were also heard. They had good reasons to vote by proxy, according to the Public Prosecution Service. For example, people were on vacation or corona prevented them from voting.
Possible fraud
With a power of attorney, voters who are unable to vote in person, for example due to illness or vacation, can have someone else vote for them.
Mayor Frank Petter had asked justice to investigate the possible tampering with proxy votes. At two polling stations in Bergen op Zoom, the number of such votes was much higher than normal. Namely 19 and 22 percent, while the average is about 10 percent. This gave rise to the suspicion that fraud may have been committed.
Local party
Many proxy votes went to two candidates from the local party GBWP. But according to party leader Arjan van der Weegen there was no reason to think that people from his party would have recruited votes. “We are accused, while we cannot defend ourselves against anything. This hurts,” he told Omroep Brabant on Monday.
With the conclusion of the Public Prosecution Service that nothing is wrong, the municipality of Bergen op Zoom is finished. The new city council will be installed on March 30, just like in most other municipalities.
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