Understanding Electoral Sections and Processes

Sections and Polling Stations

Topic: The provincial/territorial division that ensures an orderly election day and provides citizens with information to exercise their vote.

The Table: The final place in the section where citizens cast their ballots. A section may have several tables, often divided by last name.

The board is composed of a president and two members. The municipality of the area organizes it. Members are appointed by lot from among designated persons in that section who are under 65 years old and literate. Those over 65 belong to the 3rd Age group.

The president must have a Bachelor's degree, vocational qualification, or graduate degree. A deputy chairman must also be elected.

Failure to attend by the president or members is a crime; assistance is mandatory. Excuses must be submitted 10-12 days prior and enforced. Chairpersons and members are ineligible to hold their positions.

The appointment of chairpersons and members should be done with an early deadline for proper, almost professional organization.

A manual with the role to be played, prepared by the JEC, will be provided.

To be a member, the only conditions are being under 65 years old and literate.

After notification, the person has 7 days to justify their absence; then, the alternate is notified as the former has ceased to be.

If the deadline leads to a failure to attend, the Area Board of Elections must be notified 72 hours before. If later, the board is informed verbally, and it informs the deputy.

The Electoral Process

Phases

• Call
• Nominations
• Campaign
• Vote
• Scrutiny
• Proclamation of Candidates

1. Call

This is an administrative act, sometimes judicial, to determine the date and time of elections. The President of the relevant territorial area performs this act.

It must be published in the relevant official journal. It can be judicialized if:

• The government does not do it within the prescribed period, to prevent the hijacking of democracy.
• There has been an irregularity in an area or district, to repeat the elections.

2. Nominations

These are people who, meeting the requirements, stand as candidates supported by a political party or a coalition (or clusters).

Political parties registered with the Registrar of Political Parties are entitled to nominate candidates.

Requirements:

• Each candidate must submit their name clearly.
• The letters.
• The symbol.
• Whether presented alone or in coalition.
• The names of the lists cannot be hidden.

Acceptance of candidates for nominations:

• Each list must have three alternates.
• No candidate may run in more than one constituency.
• Lists must be published once approved by the Boards by the twenty-second day after the election announcement in the Official Gazette.