The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) will not hesitate to fully or partially invalidate votes in the event of vioaltions affecting the electoral process, said ISIE spokesperson Mohammed Tlili Mansri on Sunday. Until now, no "serious" violations had been recorded, he added, underscoring that violations observed during the election campaign were "simple" and "minor,". They did not exceed 120 offenses. "Only five violations made by candidates raise suspicions of electoral offenses," Mansri disclosed, specifying that the public prosecutor possesses the necessary means to ascertain the existence or absence of an electoral offense. Regarding the national participation rate in local elections, which had not exceeded 5.18% by noon, Mansri reassured that local councils would be formed regardless of participation rates. He explained that the 2011 electoral law did not set a participation threshold to approve results. Mansri added that reports from various polling stations indicated an improvement in participation rates in the afternoon. The ISIE spokesperson emphasised that observers from the Authority are on-site to monitor the voting process and financing. «Watch units are monitoring audiovisual communication means and public spaces, and ISIE would not hesitate to fully or partially invalidate votes in the presence of infractions affecting the electoral process.» Mnasri also reminded that all polling stations opened at 8:00 AM and welcomed voters until 6:00 PM. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse