recently announced it will carry out a comprehensive and exhaustive IT audit aimed at strengthening the transparency and integrity of the electoral results.
What findings could emerge from this review?
Here are the possible outcomes based on its potential conclusions.
In remarks to Andina News Agency, electoral expert Fernando Rodriguez Patron said the audit is a "sui generis" measure, as no similar precedent exists in the country's recent democratic history.
Possible outcomes
In his view, the first scenario is that the audit finds no irregularities requiring any immediate or corrective action by the JNE.
In other words, the review would conclude that "everything is in order; nothing happened here."
The second scenario is that the audit identifies inconsistencies or errors that do warrant the adoption of corrective measures.
More options
Regarding this latter possibility—namely, that inconsistencies may have occurred—he said it in turn opens up two sub-scenarios.
The first is that, if such irregularities are detected, they would be of minimal impact and would not affect the electoral outcome.
The second possibility is that, on the contrary, these issues may have altered the electoral outcome.
In this latter scenario, he said, it would be necessary to ask what the National Elections Board (JNE) would do if this situation is confirmed.
Delay
In addition, Rodriguez Patron said the carrying out of this audit could delay the official announcement of the first-round results.
"The logic tells us that, if the Board itself has ordered an audit, the results could not be announced until that audit has been completed, isn't that right? Because if it turns out to be the second scenario we are indicating, the results would be affected," he added.