Luis Arias, the president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), says the new electronic voting system contracted by the JCE at a cost of nearly US$60 million will be tested in the party primaries. Congress recently passed a bill whereby the JCE will assume the costs and responsibilities for organizing primaries of the political parties. As reported in Diario Libre, the DR’s electorate will simultaneously vote using the old paper ballot system.
Federico Antun Batlle, the PRSC party president, feels that the JCE is rushing into things. “We understand that the board needs to be modernized, but this must be done with firm steps, with care and with transparency,” he commented. The PRD delegate to the JCE, Dario de Jesus, says his party is studying the motion, as the initial documentation was only received on Monday. He said his party does not yet have an official position.