Dominicans in the diaspora to vote in upcoming elections
Dominican Republic nationals living abroad can cast their votes in the upcoming presidential and general elections scheduled for May 19.
The move aims to preserve the voting rights of nearly 1 million Dominicans residing overseas.
Collaboration for expatriate enfranchisement
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Álvarez, and the President of the Central Electoral Board (JCE), Román Jáquez Liranzo, solidified this momentous step by signing a collaboration and coordination agreement.
The agreement, signed on Thursday, signifies a commitment to ensure Dominican expatriates can exercise their civic duty in the upcoming elections.
A global effort to facilitate the voting process
Under this agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will actively engage with the governments of 32 countries and territories worldwide.
These include countries such as the United States, Panama, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, British Virgin Islands, Switzerland, and Belgium.
Their role will be to facilitate the smooth dispatch of electoral bags and provide crucial assistance to the JCE in opening bank accounts, and streamlining the logistical aspects of the voting process.
The stakes for democracy
Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Minister Álvarez emphasized the Dominican Republic’s track record of democratic stability and reliable elections since 1978.
This remarkable achievement, attributed to the collective efforts of Dominican society and responsible political leadership, underscores the need to utilize all available means to consolidate progress and reinforce democratic processes.
The importance of conducting fair, free, and transparent elections to sustain democracy cannot be overstated, he stated.
The list of voting stations will be provided by JCE and the organization said polling stations will follow all regulations.
Expatriate impact on the elections
The projected cut-off date to register to participate in the election is next Sunday.
As the date approaches, President Jáquez Liranzo shared insightful statistics.
He noted that approximately 875,000 Dominican men and women are expected to be registered, constituting a substantial 12 percent of the Dominican electorate.
The registry from abroad will have a significant impact on the elections.
