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The first national election observers to receive credentials from El Salvador’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) were deployed around the country for Jan. 18 municipal and legislative voting, which they concluded was conducted without significant systemic irregularities.
The 2,000 volunteer observers were from an NDI partner organization, the University Public Opinion Institute (Instituto Universitario de Opinión Pública, IUDOP). Their credentialing was the result of a memorandum of understanding signed by IUDOP, NDI and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo Electoral). The European Union and Organization of American States sent international observer missions.
On election day, IUDOP observers were deployed throughout the country’s 14 departments. Their mission included a “quick count” or parallel vote tabulation for the San Salvador mayoral race, recording information regarding the setup of polling stations, the voting process and the vote tabulation. While noting the lack of major systemic irregularities, IUDOP reported problems such as poorly placed voting booths that allowed third parties to witness the voting, people campaigning or attempting to influence voters inside the polling centers, and inconsistencies between the data in the electoral registry and identification documents. They also praised the high level of citizen participation. IUDOP will issue a final report, including recommendations for strengthening the electoral process before presidential elections on March 15.
The elections gave El Salvador’s main opposition party, the Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN), an historic first-time plurality in the Legislative Assembly. However, the governing National Republican Alliance Party (ARENA) is expected to keep control of the legislature in coalition with one or more smaller parties. While ARENA holds the majority of municipal councils, the FMLN was the only party to increase its number of municipalities. Despite pre-election polls favoring its candidate, the FMLN party lost the San Salvador mayoralty to ARENA for the first time in 12 years.
According to recent polls, FMLN presidential candidate Mauricio Funes holds a significant advantage over his ARENA rival, Rodrigo Ávila. ARENA has won every presidential election since 1989 and has held the presidency since the 1992 peace agreement that ended El Salvador’s civil war.
IUDOP will observe the presidential elections on March 15, as well as any run-off should no candidate obtain a majority of votes cast in the first round.
Further reading:
Pictured above: Credentials for observers monitoring the Jan. 18 municipal and legislative elections.
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Published on Jan. 29, 2009
