Ballot order set for special mayoral election in Cataño

By THE STAR STAFF

The State Elections Commission (SEC) held a drawing on Wednesday to determine ballot positions for the New Progressive Party (NPP) special election scheduled for Sept. 27 to select the new mayor of Cataño.

“The State Elections Commission is committed to guaranteeing voters an orderly, secure, and reliable process, just as we have done in the two previous special elections held during this election cycle,” SEC Commissioner Jorge Rivera Rueda said in a written statement.

Félix Matías Rodríguez will hold the first position on the ballot, followed by José Rodríguez Ocaña in second, Hiram Torres Montalvo in third, Bethzaida Rodríguez Torres in fourth and Fernando Cintrón Mercado in fifth.

Rivera Rueda, NPP Electoral Commissioner Aníbal Vega Borges and the five certified candidates participated in the drawing.

The special election is being held to fill the vacancy created following the death of Mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo.

Vega Borges urged NPP voters in Cataño to participate in the process and noted that each candidate would be entitled to have observers present during the various stages of the election.

Voters interested in participating have until Friday, Sept. 18 to register or reactivate their voter status. Early voting for incarcerated individuals will be conducted on Friday, Sept. 25, while the general canvass will take place on Monday, Sept. 28.

Voting on Sunday, Sept. 27, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.