In a plenary session, the judges of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) have rescheduled the general presidential, senatorial and provincial elections in the Dominican Republic and abroad for 5 July 2020. The election would have been held on 17 May.
A runoff election date is set for 26 July 2020. The second-round vote is scheduled in case none of the participating candidates reaches the required 50% + 1 of the vote to win in a first round.
The JCE announced by Resolution 42-2020 that the rescheduling is due to force majeure of the National State of Emergency brought by the coronavirus epidemic.
The Dominican Constitution establishes 16 August as the day on which the four-year term President and Vice President, as well as the elected legislators, are to be sworn in.
Former President Leonel Fernández has said that the Dominican Constitution does not establish what to do if the election has not been carried out before the change of mandate’s 16 August date.
While the Constitution established the date of 16 February for the municipal elections, a political consensus was reached for the postponement of these also, that time due to the failure of the automated voting system. These were successfully held on 15 March 2020 using paper ballots. This sets a precedent for a second political consensus to be reached for the presidential and congressional election.
The JCE also announced that all services of the civil registry and identity and voting cards are suspended.
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JCE
El Caribe
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
14 April 2020