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OAS Presents Recommendations for the Presidential Runoff Election in Guatemala and Announces It Will Observe the August Election

The full Preliminary Report is available here.


The Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organization of American States (OAS), headed by former Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Eladio Loizaga, congratulates the people of Guatemala on the general elections and elections of Central American Parliament deputies held on Sunday, June 25. The Mission applauds the civic commitment of the Guatemalans who went to the polls, while it congratulates the elected candidates and recognizes the work of the electoral authorities, representatives of political organizations, and other actors who contributed to the success of the elections.

The pre-electoral stage was characterized by a climate of tension and polarization that should be addressed prior to the second presidential round. On election day, the Mission observed 1,005 polling stations (Juntas Receptoras de Votos - JRV) , providing it a comprehensive overview of the process. Although in general election day was peaceful nationwide, there were some incidents of violence, which resulted in the suspension of the elections in two municipalities. The Mission condemns this type of conduct and reiterates the importance of guaranteeing the free exercise of the vote in a civic environment and with unqualified respect for the will of the people.

For the second round, the Mission invites institutional, political, and social actors to embark upon the process with a sense of democratic responsibility, refraining from statements that could generate societal divisions. The OAS/EOM calls especially on the contending candidates to focus, in the campaign and debate, on ideas and proposals. It further invites reflection on the high levels of abstentionism, invalid ballots, and blank ballots, which clearly manifests citizen disaffection. Beyond public policies designed to increase electoral participation, the Mission urges the political authorities to seek greater connection with the citizens, to listen to their concerns and generate responses that address the reality of the country.

The OAS/EOM also considers it fundamental to recognize and respect the results of the vote in order to provide the electorate with certainty and ensure the stability of the preferences expressed by the vote of the citizenry.

The Mission observed the lack of correspondence between the official election day results and all duly publicized pre-election polling. The OAS has noted such inconsistency in various elections. Although the Mission understands that polls are not a results prediction instrument, but rather a snapshot of preferences indicated at a given time, it is also aware that they influence the implementation of the electoral process. For example, they influence the media attention received by the candidates and their participation in discussion and debate forums. Therefore, the Mission urges the institutions and companies that carry out pre-electoral polling to revise their methodology so that it yields a more faithful reflection of reality.

After two preliminary visits to Guatemala in mid-May and early June 2023, the OAS/EOM was deployed to the country on June 13. The Mission was composed of 90 specialists and observers from 20 countries, who observed the elections in the 24 Departmental Electoral Boards (Juntas Electorales Departamentales - JED), corresponding to Guatemala’s 22 departments, the Guatemala City Central District, and one polling station set up in Arlington, Virginia, in the United States of America.

During these elections, the Mission analyzed different aspects of the electoral process, including specialists in the areas of electoral organization and technology, electoral justice, political financing, electoral violence, and the political participation of women and indigenous peoples. The Mission met with electoral and governmental authorities, candidates, and representatives of political parties, civil society, and the academic community to learn about the election preparations, the different perspectives of the process, and the political context in which it was conducted. Based on these interviews, a study of the ,norms and information gathered on–site through direct observation nationwide, it was possible to make a comprehensive analysis of the electoral process and to monitor the implementation of the recommendations issued by prior OAS missions.

This Preliminary Report focuses on presenting findings and proposing recommendations for implementation for the second presidential round to be held on August 20. Subsequently, the OAS/EOM will present other technical observations on the Guatemalan electoral process, which will be set out in the Preliminary Report on the second presidential round and in the Final Report to the OAS Permanent Council.

PRE-ELECTORAL STAGE

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The full Preliminary Report is available here.

Reference: S-009/23