My wife and I voted shortly after 12:00 noon, at the voting center installed in the premises of Instituto San Juan Bautista, behind Bella Vista Mall, in SD. I was expecting lengthy lines of voters, and a stay of at least an hour. To my amazement, the place was practically deserted of voters, however, it was teaming with electoral officials and political party representatives.
We were out in less than 10 minutes.
My wife Altagracia was unsure about voting, she did not know who to vote for. This is understandable, in our home politics is not a frequent or even a serious topic of conversation. I told her I was voting for the government party, both for Congress and City Mayor. I gave her my reasons. The Congress should have a membership more evenly balanced between the PRD and PLD, and the S?ndico (Mayor) should always belong to the same party as the President, for more efficient city management.
Over a late lunch, talking about the experience, it occurred to me the following:
1) In each election booth, at least one of the 10 to 15 election officials and party representatives, should explain to voters that request it, how to vote. The voting process is not straightward or friendly to most voters.
2) Voting should be compulsory, with appropriate sanctions for those who don't vote.
3) Instead of distributing between RD$600-1000 million between the major political parties, for promotion and propaganda prior to elections, the government should give each voter, at the poll's exit, a non-tranferable certificate worth RD$500, redeemable anytime within the next four years, as payment for any government service (passport fees, drivers license, school fees, public hospital services, etc., etc.).
...
We were out in less than 10 minutes.
My wife Altagracia was unsure about voting, she did not know who to vote for. This is understandable, in our home politics is not a frequent or even a serious topic of conversation. I told her I was voting for the government party, both for Congress and City Mayor. I gave her my reasons. The Congress should have a membership more evenly balanced between the PRD and PLD, and the S?ndico (Mayor) should always belong to the same party as the President, for more efficient city management.
Over a late lunch, talking about the experience, it occurred to me the following:
1) In each election booth, at least one of the 10 to 15 election officials and party representatives, should explain to voters that request it, how to vote. The voting process is not straightward or friendly to most voters.
2) Voting should be compulsory, with appropriate sanctions for those who don't vote.
3) Instead of distributing between RD$600-1000 million between the major political parties, for promotion and propaganda prior to elections, the government should give each voter, at the poll's exit, a non-tranferable certificate worth RD$500, redeemable anytime within the next four years, as payment for any government service (passport fees, drivers license, school fees, public hospital services, etc., etc.).
...