The Central Electoral Board (JCE) proposed to political parties that these cover 40% of the cost of participating in the simultaneous primary day to choose their presidential candidates on 6 October 2019. According to JCE president, Julio César Castaños Guzmán, the PLD, the PRM, the PRD and AlPais will need to pay RD$380 million to the cost of the primaries. The JCE will cover the other 60% of the cost. The first three parties will pay RD$120 million each and the AlPais, a minority party, will pay RD$20 million. The funds will be deducted from the annual allotment the government contributes to political parties.
The Political Parties Law 33-18 had ordered the political parties to pick up the entire cost of the primaries. Nevertheless, the JCE proposes to cover 60% of the cost in order to test the automated voting system it wants to implement for the municipal, congressional and presidential elections in 2020 during the 6 October simultaneous primaries.
20 March 2019