The president of the Junta Central Electoral, Manuel Ramón Morel Cerda said that representatives from the Organization of American States, the Centro de Asesoría y Promoción Electoral para América Latina (CAPEL), the International Foundation of Electoral Systems and the Carter Center will be in the DR to observe the election simulacrum scheduled for this weekend. President Leonel Fernández has declared of "national interest" the pre-identification and verification process to take place this Saturday, 25 and Sunday, 26 March nationwide. The Junta Central Electoral, the body in charge of organizing the presidential election of 16 May 2000, is urging that all voters visit their pre-assigned voting station to verify their voting card data. There are more than 11,500 voting stations nationwide. The JCE has issued new voting cards and wants to make sure these and the voting lists of the stations are correct. Citizens that registered by 31 January 2000, but have not been able to obtain their final identification and voting card, or cedula, are especially being encouraged to visit the voting tables. The government urged all employers give their personnel the necessary time off, and announced free OMSA public bus service throughout the weekend during the hours the stations will be open.
