Hacienda Minister Donald Guerrero advocated that the municipal, congressional and presidential elections all take place on the same date. He said this would mean savings of RD$4-6 billion. A constitutional amendment is required to make this change. Art. 209 of the Constitution establishes that the elections for President, Vice President, members of Congress, and representatives in international parliaments shall be held the third Sunday of May. It rules that the elections for municipal authorities shall be held the third Sunday of February.
The JCE has already factored in the cost of the separate 16 February 2020 municipal election and the 17 May 2020 presidential election. There is also the possibility a second round be needed that would take place on 28 June 2019 if a political party does not receive 50%+1 of the vote in a first round.
The cost of the 2020 general elections increased with the backing of the PLD government when the government accepted to use taxpayer money for the organization of individual party primaries. The ruling PLD party maneuvered so that the government picks up the tab for political party primaries that will now be partially financed by taxpayer funds. The Political Parties Law 33-18 had established that the parties would pay for the primaries, but in the end, the JCE agreed to pick up the larger part of the tab.
Political analysts say that the outcome of the municipal elections could affect the results of the congressional and presidential election.
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El Caribe
31 August 2019