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MONGOLIA BY-ELECTION NEWS BRIEF Vote-taking On October 18, 2009 the vote-taking began at 7:00 am at 23 polling stations in the

Chingeltei District (Election District #24). As reported by the General Election Commission (GEC) 71,742 voter mandates were printed out for eligible voters and were either delivered directly or waiting to be picked up at the polling stations. Vote-taking started off fairly slow showing 9-18% turnout at noon. Authorities, including political parties called on voters to make effort to come to the polling stations. bTV went further than that by airing calls encouraging voters to vote for MPRP candidate D. Zorigt. According to Todays Mongolia voters had come out after promise of more money has been made by political parties. Allegations that MPRP is buying vote at 20,000MNT and promising 30,000MNT after the vote have been evidenced in one instance by a video-taped coverage shown on TV9 two nights before vote-taking began. On election-day TV9 reported about voter mandate buyers who paid 5,000MNT to purchase these. Media reports appear to conclude that vote-buying has played a significant role in this election than ever before. However, tampering with voter lists is still the preferred form of ensuring victory. While the current number of eligible voters appears to show that the Citizen Registration and Data Centre addressed the allegations that over 26,000 voters were added since presidential election in May 2009, there were numerous complaints filed by old residents who have been deleted from the list and other voters registered at their addresses in their stead. The District Election Committee held press conferences at 12pm, 5pm and 9pm on the status of votetaking. At 12pm press conference DEC reported that 71,704 voters are registered to vote. At 5pm this number changed to 71,719 and at 9pm it reported that 71,726 voters were expected to vote. This appears to be in conflict with the information that printing of voter mandates will stop at 6pm on October 17. Almost all TV news studios covered before and during vote-taking incidences of such complaints and minor conflicts which took place at polling stations throughout the district. Polling Station in Horoo #7 was specifically covered several times as its residents called news and police to ensure that the public hears and sees unprofessional behavior of the chairman of the election committee (MPRP). DP General Secretary D. Erdenebat and MP Z. Enkhbold held a televised press-conference expressing hope that despite these reports of vote-buying and other fraudulent acts the overall election will be fair and free. They provided phone numbers for voters to call in to report fraudulent action. Election outcome With these pre-election and vote-taking day discrepancies the vote-taking process successfully concluded at 22.00pm with 62 percent voter turnout. On October 19 at 14:30 the Election District Committee has announced the outcome of the by-election as follows: D. Zorigt, MPRP 26,592 votes or 60.37% R. Burmaa, DP 13,027 votes or 29.57% G. Uyanga 2010 votes or 4.56% S. Javhlan - 1690 votes or 3.84% G. Arslan - 304 votes or 0.69%

D. Tumurbaatar 159 votes or 0.36% L. Jargalsaikhan 114 votes or 0.26% MPRP candidate D. Zorigt was issued his temporary MP mandate on October 19 at the time the announcement of the election outcome the District Election Committee. GEC issued its resolution on the byelection and will present it to the President Ts. Elbegdorj and the State Great Hural (parliament). DP General Secretary D. Erdenebat held a press-conference accepting the outcome of this by-election as lawful and fair on October 19 at 16:30pm. In his statement he mentioned that the outcome of this election will be reported to and discussed by the congress of DP to be held soon. However, as Zuuny Medee reports, there is split in the opinion of DP leadership on the issue of this press statement. DP appears to be divided on whether General Secretary D. Erdenebats statement represents the official position of the party on this matter. DP is expected to discuss this matter in more detail at its steering council meeting reports the paper. This speedy process of accepting D. Zorigts MP status by all authorities is interpreted as proof of preelection discussions that the two parties have made a deal and the victory of the MPRP candidate is no surprise to all. It appears that only the candidate himself is surprised at such high support for him as Zuuny Medee article reports. An article in Daily News lists many old and new tricks which have changed the blue district vote. It concludes that by lowest estimates at least $1 million must have been spent on buying vote in this byelection. The article concludes that big election fraud must have taken place to change Chingeltei District, which has always been known as the blue district for its DP support. This district has voted in democratic MPs in 2008 and three months ago demonstrated highest rate of vote for a democratic president and suddenly today turns out a 60 percent vote for a MPRP candidate. The article in www.olloo.mn Todays Mongolia attempts to analyze reasons for pre-election allegations that the two big political parties had already agreed to bring in incumbent Cabinet Minister D. Zorigt into parliament. It talks about the ties and power gained by Altan Gadas faction in DP and the city faction in MPRP and their aim to ensure interests of a political-financial oligarchy. It concludes by saying that political parties should have not wasted taxpayer money on political shows such as this by-election. It is expected that D. Zorigt will see green lights all through presidential and parliamentary acceptance and oath taking process.

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