PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2014: THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND... June 20th, 2013 In less tan seven months from now, on February 2nd, 2014, Salvadorans will aend a new electoral event: the presidenal elecon. In this newsleer you will learn about the enty in charge of regulang these elecons, some challenges for the future of this instuon and some peculiaries of next year’s electoral event. WHAT DOES OUR ELECTORAL AUTHORITY DO? The Electoral Authority in El Salvador is Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE from now on). It has jurisdiconal, administrave and financial autonomy, is based in San Salvador but exercises jurisdicon throughout the country. Our Constuon states that TSE will be composed of five jusces (with five alternates each), designed by Congress. Three of those come from lists proposed by the three polical pares with the most votes in the last electoral event and two come from lists submied by the Supreme Court. SOME FACTS ABOUT 2014 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS CHALLENGES AHEAD... EARLY CAMPAIGNING Is it worth it to rethink the pe- riod allowed to campaign or should we aim at tougher sanc- ons to those who campaign earlier than is authorized? PARTY LAW/REGULATION Our current Law does not gua- rantee transparency within pares. Moreover, TSE has not yet submied the rules needed to make the Law funcon. SEPARATE FUNCTIONS When are we going to advance toward separate instuons: one that administers elecons and another one with jurisdic- onal authority? CITY COUNCILS Starng from 2015, city coun- cils in El Salvador will be gover- ned by several pares. This will certainly bring trans- parency and accountability! Transmision of results Aſter several discussions, TSE jusces decided that a private company will be hired to transmit results. The cost of this transmion is US$8 million. Fun fact: the company that provided this service in 2012 hasn’t been paid yet. Vong abroad Out of the 3 million Salvadorans abroad, it is expected that up to 250 thousand (8%) might vote in 2014. If Salvadorans wish to vote from abroad, they will have to send their ballot by mail 20 days before the elecons. In order to vote, they must obtain an official ID, issued in any consulate, that cerfies that they live abroad. Residenal vote Residenal vote reached 185 municipalies in 2012. In the 2014 presidenal elec- ons, people in all 262 municipalies in El Salvador will be able to vote closer to their homes. The total cost of this program is US$2.5 million.