The process of verifying postal ballot packages sent by voters from outside Kosovo is continuing at the Vote Counting and Results Centre (VCRC), with more than 7,000 so far approved.

The spokesperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Valmir Elezi, from the Municipal Counting Centre in Prishtina, said that over 7,000 suspected ballot packages have been reviewed so far. According to him, 7,153 of them have been approved, while 142 have been rejected.

The most common reason for rejection, according to Elezi, is the absence of a registration certificate in 114 cases—a document containing voter details that registered voters receive from the CEC when registering as voters abroad.

He also announced that in 13 Municipal Counting Centres, the verification and counting process has been completed.

“Up to now, the verification and counting process has been completed in 13 MCCs, while the total number of processed polling stations is 1,379 out of 2,498, or more than 55 percent. Meanwhile, in the others, it is expected to be completed during the day on Wednesday. Regarding activities at the VCRC, the evaluation process of suspected ballot packages from voting outside Kosovo via mail is ongoing, which have so far been brought to Kosovo. So far, from the majority that have been received in Kosovo, more than 7,000 have undergone evaluation, of which 7,153 have been approved and 142 have been rejected. The most frequent reason for rejection is that in 114 cases the registration certificate is missing, a document with voter details that the registered voter receives from the CEC when registering as an external voter,” Elezi said.

Elezi said that the VCRC is also carrying out the assessment of suspected postal ballot packages from abroad.

He also said that there will be a scanning of the voter lists used at regular polling stations, the lists used for voting by persons with special needs, and voting at diplomatic missions.

Regarding the recount process, Elezi emphasized that the CEC may order a recount of up to 10 percent of polling stations in a given municipality, which are first counted at the MCCs.

The purpose of this provision, he said, is to ensure that the process has been conducted properly, and for any findings, the CEC will take further steps.