Popular Democratic Party selects new Government Board members
More than 7,200 Popular Democratic Party members voted in an open election on Sunday to select seven representatives who will join party president Pablo José Hernández.
File photoThe short version
- Primera Hora reported that Juan Carlos García Padilla, Julia Nazario Cruz, Ada Álvarez Conde, Marially González Huertas and Ramón Torres were elected at-large members
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that Ingrid Colberg and Morgan Cordero Calderón were chosen for the San Juan and Bayamón districts respectively
- Both outlets stated that 7,214 electors participated and that technology including a QR code system sped up the process
- The general canvassing will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the party headquarters according to the PPD
Election results announced
The Popular Democratic Party (PPD) concluded the canvassing process to choose new members of its Government Board. On Sunday afternoon, party secretary general Manuel Calderón Cerame and electoral commissioner Ernesto González Rodríguez informed the winners of an open election that was held for the first time to the popular base. Primera Hora reported
Juan Carlos García Padilla, mayor of Coamo; Julia Nazario Cruz, mayor of Loíza; Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde; Sen. Marially González Huertas of the Ponce District; and Rep. Ramón Torres were elected as at-large members. Ingrid Colberg and Morgan Cordero Calderón were elected to represent the San Juan and Bayamón districts. They will join party president and resident commissioner in Washington Pablo José Hernández. The new members are expected to promote the new philosophy of the collective presented at the PPD General Assembly. Metro Puerto Rico reported
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Agradezco a los miles de populares que participaron de esta votación histórica y a los que llegaron a Ponce para ser parte de la Asamblea General.
Our translation: I thank the thousands of populares who participated in this historic vote and those who came to Ponce to be part of the General Assembly.
The source's own statement, as quoted by Primera Hora. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Voter turnout and technology used
Electoral commissioner Ernesto González Rodríguez said 7,214 electors participated. He highlighted that the process was fast thanks to the integration of technologies such as the Electronic Voter Registration System (SERE) that allowed the use of the Pava Pass, a QR Code for easy and quick identification of voters. The Integrated System of Transmission, Validation and Electoral Disclosure was also used for the publication of results. A web portal at www.comisionadoppd.com enabled real-time viewing of the voting results, which added transparency. Primera Hora reported
The results from the 20 polling stations canvassed were: Juan Carlos García Padilla 5,375 votes, Julia Nazario Cruz 4,814, Ada Álvarez Conde 3,939, Marially González Huertas 3,691 and Ramón Torres 3,532. Both sources listed the same figures. Metro Puerto Rico reported
Where the sources differ
Primera Hora and Metro Puerto Rico agree on all vote totals, the seven elected members and their positions, the participation figure of 7,214 electors, the use of the named technological systems and the date of the general canvassing on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Both outlets attribute the same statements to Calderón Cerame and González Rodríguez. The only minor difference is that Primera Hora includes an additional quote from González Rodríguez about the transparency portal while Metro Puerto Rico summarizes the technological improvements without quoting that specific sentence.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state where the 20 polling stations were located or whether voting was conducted only in person. They provide no information on how many candidates competed in total, what the new philosophy of the party consists of, or any details about the General Assembly itself beyond the fact that it presented that philosophy. The sources also do not indicate when the newly elected members will begin their duties on the Government Board.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Populares escogen miembros de su Junta de Gobierno
- Reporting Populares escogen miembros de su Junta de Gobierno
- Reporting Miles escogen a los nuevos integrantes de la Junta de Gobierno del PPD
How we checked this
Both Primera Hora and Metro Puerto Rico reported the election results, turnout figure and use of technology on the same Sunday the announcement was made. The statements from Calderón Cerame and González Rodríguez appear in both outlets. The location of the voting itself rests on neither source, as only the Assembly attendance in Ponce is mentioned.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.