Lawyer Marisol Vicens, writing in El Caribe, urges that the focus of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) be on the preparing for the implementing of the preferential voting system at the municipal level. This would enable voters to choose their councilmen. So far, parties have chosen the councilmen, and voters have only been able to elect the mayor.<\/p>\n
The preferential system at the municipal level was mandated in Electoral Law 275-97 but was only implemented at a congressional level in the 2002 congressional and municipal election. It should go into effect in the upcoming 2006 election.<\/p>\n
Vicens says that actions need to be taken to learn from past experiences, such as improving the system whereby party delegates validate the voting acts so as to reduce the considerable bottlenecks that have occurred in the past delaying the public from knowing the final tally of the vote.<\/p>\n
She also urged that there be more transparency and control in the management of budget resources allotted to the political parties and that the government come forth with the promised decree on government purchases and contracts.<\/p>\n
Vicens also feels the JCE should concentrate on strengthening its role as administrator of the electoral process so as to impose the 90 day period for electoral campaigns. She says this is important so as to reduce the eventual cost of the campaigns that increases when these are drawn out for more months, making these subject to being funded by dirty money.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, she highlights that citizens have the duty and the right to choose better legislators and city government officers, not reelecting those who are known to have gone to government to serve themselves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lawyer Marisol Vicens, writing in El Caribe, urges that the focus of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) be on the preparing for the implementing of the preferential voting system at the municipal level. This would enable voters to choose their councilmen. So far, parties have chosen the councilmen, and voters have only been able to … <\/p>\n