Incumbent favorite as Dominican presidential election winds up

SANTO DOMINGO — Dominican Republic incumbent leader Danilo Medina was favored to win the country’s presidential election as polling stations closed Sunday, in a vote marked by long lines, technical difficulties and staff walkouts. Authorities in the popular Caribbean tourist destination, which is beset by widespread poverty, had prolonged the vote by an hour after some polling centers opened up to two hours late. The day’s delays were due to glitches with electronic equipment and a mass resignation of some 3,000 technical assistants, according to the head of the electoral commission, Roberto Rosario, who gave no details on why the workers quit. “From here on we will see national consolidation. The vote is over,” Rosario said after stations closed at 2300 GMT. Medina, who is favored to beat his seven rivals despite the country’s grinding poverty and widespread crime, called the resignations “irresponsible” as he cast his ballot at a school in the capital of Santo Domingo. “The process is taking place as normal,” he said. — AFP