Gorinchem election results declared valid despite voter fraud concerns

Election results in Gorinchem have been formally certified despite an ongoing investigation into suspected voter fraud involving proxy votes, while earlier reports detailed alleged vote solicitation and irregularities before and during election day.

The Central Electoral Office (CSB), led by Mayor Reinie Melissant, announced Thursday morning that the results of last week’s municipal elections are final. The decision comes as police and the Public Prosecution Service (OM) continue investigating multiple reports of irregularities.

Melissant said the municipal council must now decide how to proceed, noting it has broader authority than the CSB, whose powers are “limited.” The council is expected to make a decision during a meeting Monday. It can either install the new council after March 30 despite the fraud signals or order a revote at one or more polling stations. If a revote is ordered, the current council will remain in place until it is completed.

The investigation was launched after the municipality received multiple reports that the voting process “did not take place according to the rules everywhere.” Polling stations documented irregularities in official reports, and residents also raised concerns.

“I take the reports that have reached me extremely seriously,” Melissant said. “In close consultation with the police and the Public Prosecution Service, an investigation has been launched into the suspicion of voter fraud. This must be done with the utmost care. It is impossible to say at this moment how long the investigation will take.”

She emphasized the importance of election integrity. “Residents must be able to trust that their vote counts and that a reliable election result will be produced. Should it turn out that voter fraud has actually been committed, the necessary follow-up steps will be taken.”

Concerns about possible fraud surfaced well before election day. The municipality received reports that people were approached at home and by phone and pressured to grant proxy voting rights. “People were approached at the door, by phone, and pressured to provide a proxy,” Melissant said.

Proxy voting allows a person to vote on behalf of another, with a legal maximum of two proxies per person. The municipality warned candidates ahead of the election that soliciting proxies is a punishable offense and informed residents of the rules when ballots were distributed.

On election day, one polling station reported that a candidate visited five times, each time accompanied by one or two individuals carrying multiple proxies. Another polling station also reported irregularities, though no details were provided. The identity of the suspected candidate has not been disclosed.

Melissant said earlier that there were signals “well before the elections” that votes were being solicited and that people may have been pressured to issue proxies, potentially inflating vote totals. It remains unclear who may be responsible.

The Central Electoral Office’s certification process is separate from the criminal investigation and cannot be delayed pending its outcome. Under the current schedule, the new council is set to take office April 1, though that could change depending on the council’s decision.

Council members will be briefed Thursday evening on the latest developments and can question election law experts.

Melissant described the situation as challenging for the municipality. “A lot is happening, but I am convinced that we will get through this together,” she said.