President Danilo Medina ordered on Wednesday, 2 October 2019 the suspension of teaching activities at the state university and pre-university education system on Saturday, 5 October and Sunday, 6 October for the primaries. The Presidency issued Decree 340-19 whereby the Ministry of Education is to place public school locations at the service of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), starting Friday, 4 October at 4pm. The decree also puts public administration vehicles at the service of the JCE on Saturday and Sunday.
The two leading political parties in the Dominican Republic, the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) are holding their primaries on 6 October 2019. Voters are asked to choose the party candidates for the 16 February 2020 municipal elections and the 17 May 2020 presidential and congressional elections on Sunday, 6 October 2019. In the case of the PLD, the primaries are open to more than seven million eligible voters. In the case of the PRM, the primary is restricted to voters that have registered as PRM party members. Voters can only participate in one of the two simultaneous polls.
The organization of the 6 October simultaneous primaries, where only the official Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the opposition Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) will participate, is costing taxpayers RD$2.4 billion. Listin Diario explains that the Central Electoral Board (JCE) is covering RD$1.16 billion, while the PLD and the PRM will contribute RD$241 million from the allotments they receive by law from the state.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
3 October 2019