In the run-up to the upcoming general elections in El Salvador, a climate of public safety is paving the way for a smooth electoral process, as political parties carry out their campaigns nationwide. The Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) is diligently preparing for the elections in February and March, benefitting from the prevailing sense of security in the country.
Noel Orellana, a magistrate of the TSE, emphasized that the current public safety conditions have allowed the electoral body to conduct its work without hindrance. This has created an environment where candidates from competing parties can campaign in peace, freely accessing all territories without fear.
«In the upcoming election, changes of residence [by voters] for security reasons or changes in polling stations caused by gangs have been virtually nonexistent,» stated Orellana. He affirmed that the existing public security system ensures that people will vote in their place of residence, contributing to a high voter turnout.
Since assuming office, President Nayib Bukele has championed the Plan Control Territorial strategy, reinforced by a state of exception. This approach has resulted in a public safety climate that allows the electoral organization to function seamlessly in both rural and urban areas. Orellana highlighted that polling stations have been inspected without any issues.
Orellana recalled challenges faced by previous electoral bodies, such as the need to relocate polling stations and individuals having to change their residence due to gang intimidation. In the past, gangs controlled territories, threatening candidates, disrupting rallies, and exerting pressure on voters, undermining the free and democratic electoral process.
During the 2014 presidential elections, gangs forced the TSE to segment polling stations and place them in areas under their control to ensure the safety of personnel and voters. In the 2018 municipal and legislative elections, the TSE also had to relocate polling stations according to the boundaries set by the gangs across the country.
The 2019 presidential elections were marred by gang harassment towards voters. Orellana highlighted that it was only after the 2021 municipal and legislative elections that a shift towards peaceful and secure voting was observed, thanks to the government’s public safety strategy.
As El Salvador gears up for the 2024 elections, candidates from the 11 political parties participating in the electoral process can now enter territories without fear of violence from gang members, marking a significant improvement in the overall security landscape.