BBC : Mexico ballot papers to be burnt

Mexico ballot papers to be burnt

BBC News : September 13, 2006

Ballots from Mexico's bitterly disputed presidential vote are to be burnt, despite a plea to keep them by President-elect Felipe Calderon.

The Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) said in a letter to Mr Calderon that the law obliged it to destroy the papers once a winner had been declared.

Mr Calderon said saving them would boost public confidence in the poll.

Last week he was officially proclaimed victorious after the top electoral tribunal dismissed fraud claims.

His opponent, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, lost by less than 1% of the vote. He alleged widespread fraud in the election, and still refuses to accept defeat.

Electoral officials will meet to set a date to destroy the ballots, IFE chairman Luis Carlos Ugalde said in the letter, which was released to the media late on Tuesday.