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### Viewing cable 06SANJOSE180, COSTA RICAN VOTING PROCEDURES FOR FEBRUARY 5

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06SANJOSE180 | 2006-01-25 21:09 | 2011-03-21 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy San Jose

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 000180

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV CS
    SUBJECT: COSTA RICAN VOTING PROCEDURES FOR FEBRUARY 5

    ¶1.  Summary:  Costa Rica has a long tradition of free and
    fair elections.  We expect no problems on February 5 when
    voters will choose a new president and national legislature.
    Perhaps the most interesting outcome, besides who wins, will
    be the level of voter turnout.  Historically very high in
    Costa Rica at about 80 percent, voter turnout dropped to 60
    percent in 2002, and many political observers expect it to
    drop further this year.  End Summary.

    ¶2.  On Sunday, February 5, Costa Ricans will elect a new
    president along with first and second vice presidents, the
    members of the Legislative Assembly (deputies), and the
    members of the country's 81 municipal councils, all for
    four-year terms.  What makes these elections particularly
    momentous is that nationally elected officials (presidents,
    vice presidents, and deputies) cannot serve consecutive
    terms.  Thus, there will be a complete turnover of government
    at the national level.

    ¶3.  The president and vice presidents, who run together on a
    ticket, are directly elected by the people nationwide.
    Deputies, however, run on party lists at the provincial
    level.  (Provinces exist for electoral and bureaucratic
    purposes.  There are no provincial governments.)
    Representation in the 57-member unicameral Assembly is
    according to party vote in each of the seven provinces.  The
    province with the largest population, San Jose, gets 20
    deputies, and the smallest, Guanacaste, four deputies.  If a
    party in San Jose province gets half the vote, for example,
    the top ten people on its list will be elected.

    ¶4.  Voters therefore have to make three choices:  president
    (along with vice presidents); party preference for the
    Legislative Assembly; and party preference for their
    municipal council.  Voters can split their vote, but they
    cannot hand-pick deputies or municipal council members.
    Party structures decide who is on the list and in what order.
     For the Assembly, the presidential candidates usually have a
    big say about the names on their party lists.

    ¶5.  The Constitution requires the winner for president to
    obtain at least 40 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff
    election with the second-place candidate.  Since the
    constitution was adopted in 1949, there has been only one
    runoff election--in 2002.  A runoff in 2006, if necessary
    (which is doubtful), would take place on April 2.

    ¶6.  For more than 50 years Costa Rica has been a stable
    two-party democracy with voter turnout on the order of 80
    percent.  There has been a fairly regular alternation of
    power between the National Liberation Party (PLN) and the
    Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC).  In 2002, the Citizens'
    Action Party (PAC), which is to the left of the two centrist
    traditional parties, emerged as a significant third-party
    force in Costa Rica; at the same time, voter turnout dropped
    to an all-time low of about 60 percent.  This year a party of
    the right, the Libertarian Movement (ML), is expected to get
    up to 15 percent of the vote, beating out PUSC.  Voter
    turnout may drop even lower this year than it was in 2002.

    ¶7.  The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) administers
    elections.  During an election period there are five TSE
    magistrates and four alternates.  They are appointed by the
    Supreme Court and serve six-year terms.  The TSE tracks and
    publishes political contributions.  Since 1948, when alleged
    election fraud led to a brief civil war, elections in Costa
    Rica have been free and fair.  Allegations of fraud at the
    ballot box are now rare.  More common are allegations of
    irregularities in the financing of political campaigns.

    ¶8.  Most voting is by paper ballots, which are counted by
    hand.  Computer voting was introduced on a pilot basis during
    mayoral elections in December 2002.  There will be some
    computer voting in the February 2006 elections as well, but
    still on a trial basis.  Voters must go to the polls; there
    is no absentee voting.  The voting age is 18.

    ¶9.  Election days in Costa Rica are festive occasions.
    Although party representatives may not interfere with voters
    or instruct them how to vote, they may set up "informational
    tables" directly in front of the polling places.  The tables
    are decorated with party colors and pictures of presidential
    candidates (which also appear on the ballot), and
    representatives wear party T-shirts and buttons.  The
    competition is good-natured.

    ¶10.  A cherished Costa Rican tradition, and example of civic
    education, is children's voting on election day.  Children
    can vote on a children's ballots, with the same candidates
    that are on their parents' ballots, at "polling places" in
    schools, other public building, hotels, and, most notably,
    the Children's Museum in the capital.

    ¶11.  The TSE provides credentials for both national and
    international election observers.  Embassy will have 18
    observers, including the Ambassador, to visit polling places
    on February 5.
    LANGDALE

`