Voting for change ...

In a nation bombarded by violence, high unemployment, and constant migration, El Salvador is thirsty for change.  Be it from the left, from the right, or from the middle, there are major issues at stake in this Sunday’s deputy and mayoral elections.  But it is also complex.  Voting systems are changing, access to technology continues to increase for the richer sectors of the population, and the sheer number of candidates makes this year’s elections rather tense.

El Salvador’s presidential elections process in 2009 was complicated.  To vote, a citizen had to first travel to the locale of their permanent address, as noted on their national identity card, or DUI (Documento Único de Identidad).  One must then report to the corresponding voting center, locate their DUI photo on a large cardboard placard, and present their DUI to the volunteer staff.  After several signatures, the ballot is presented and the voter passes to the private voting booth, votes, and folds their ballot in half and places it in the ballot box.  The voter then returns to the volunteers, signs another registry, and also places their thumbprint by their signature.  The process is complete.

There are many changes in store for this year’s deputy and mayoral elections.  Nine provinces will utilize a new process, the Residential Vote, while the other five will continue using what is termed the Traditional Vote, the process used in the last elections in 2009.  The Residential Vote requires citizens to vote in centers close to their homes, rather than travel at great distances.  The hope is that this will cut down on possible voter fraud, as neighbors will vote with neighbors.  Before this type of voting system was implemented, there were general accusations that Guatemalans and other Central Americans were brought in by certain political parties and given false DUI cards in order to increase that party’s winnings.

The largest doubt, however, besides voter fraud or violence, lies in how to mark one’s ballot.  In San Salvador alone there are 192 candidates for the Legislative Assembly, ultimately vying for 24 seats.  An example of the ballot for San Salvador, shown on national news programs, appears to be the size of a standard newspaper page, with each of the nine political parties able to list a maximum of 24 candidates for the Legislative Assembly.  This uncertainty has many citizens on edge, and why wouldn’t it, when there are also four different ways to mark one’s ballot.  That which brings the most confusion is the difference between marking the political party’s flag, and marking the photo of that party’s candidate, or marking the flag and the candidate.  For which candidate does the vote count if one only marks the political party’s flag?  Logically, marking the candidate’s photo gives them a preferential vote, but with 24 candidates per political party in San Salvador, and nine parties in total, it gets confusing.

What will happen?  Will the residential voting system be a step forward, or will El Salvador revert back to the traditional system for the next elections?  Will voters be so confused by the seemingly infinite number of ways to mark their ballots that many votes will be nullified?   The next few days will tell.