The Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) has released its detailed observation report about the June 26 by-elections and noted that voters were influenced inside polling stations. The network had deployed as many as 464 observers to monitor over 2,500 polling stations in 28 constituencies. The report is based on data received from more than 1,500 polling stations in five National Assembly and 12 provincial constituencies. A Fafen official said that unlike the Feb. 18 general elections, this time the interference of local governments was minimal. However, there had been significant increase in interference, as both federal and provincial ministers were active on and before the election day, campaigning for their party candidates. The prime minister, chief ministers and federal and provincial ministers used official protocols and vehicles for the campaign of their favourite candidates, which was against the election law and code of conduct. The report noted that turnout in 25 all-female polling stations in the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) sample for the National Assembly constituencies was lower than that of male and combined polling stations. In all-female polling stations, turnout was recorded at 17.7 percent, compared to 22 percent in all-male polling stations and 32 percent in 83 combined polling stations. Turnout in all-female polling stations was lowest (7.3 percent) in NA-55, followed by NA-147 (14 percent) and NA-52 (15 percent). Turnout of 45 percent in all-female polling stations in NA-131 was comparatively high, but still less than that of all-male polling stations, which reported 53 percent turnout and combined stations, which reported 61 percent turnout. __
