The Junta Central Electoral has issued the ruling that will apply to the international observers that may visit at the time of next May’s presidential election. The JCE has established that they may travel to all voting centers throughout the country, may be advised of complaints and denunciations, but must abstain from proclaiming winners and communicating projected outcomes of the election until they are released by the Junta.
The ruling also grants permission to the observers to speak freely to all the political parties and their allies. It indicates that with the exception of access to restricted areas, the JCE will provide facilities for the observers to have access to the electoral colleges or tables to observe the election. They will also have access to the bulletins on the electoral results provided by the JCE and other juntas in the time period established by the law.
The ruling establishes that the observers will not be able to request official documents from officials and employees of the Junta and its associate bodies. They may not substitute for, nor obstruct the electoral authorities in the exercise of their work. It also establishes that observers cannot become supervisors of the functions that the Constitution, laws and rulings grant exclusively to the JCE. It says that in case of a violation of the Constitution and the country’s laws, the JCE may revoke the international observers accreditation.