Final protocol falsification

Final protocol falsification refers to the alteration of actual voting results at a polling station (PEC). During the vote count, only commissioners with a decisive vote and observers are typically present. If observers are absent and there is collusion among the PEC members, there are no obstacles to manipulating the final protocol results.

This type of fraud can take various forms, including ballot stuffing during the vote count, partial removal or substitution of ballots, the wrongful declaration of ballots as invalid, and incorrect ballot counting. The most effective way to prevent final protocol falsification is by ensuring the presence of independent observers at the polling station during the vote count.