In anticipation of the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in El Salvador, the 15th mission of international observers from the Center for Exchange and Solidarity (CIS) is set to deploy with optimism. The CIS Director, Leslie Schuld, expressed confidence in a day without irregularities, highlighting the novel inclusion of overseas voting as a key development.
A contingent of 100 individuals, representing El Salvador, the United States, Germany, Canada, Honduras, and the Basque Country, will be strategically stationed in various voting centers across Cojutepeque, Cuscatlán; Antiguo Cuscatlán, Nuevo Cuscatlán; Mejicanos, Tonacatepeque, and San Salvador; San Rafael Oriente, in San Miguel; and Concepción Batres, in Usulután.
Leslie Schuld emphasized the absence of anticipated difficulties or anomalies within the country, attributing the smooth process to its similarity to previous years. However, she acknowledged the unique challenge posed by electronic voting abroad, stating, “We will be observing citizen participation, accessibility, and the development of the voting process both in the United States and here in El Salvador.”
Brenda Pfahnl, an immigration lawyer from Minnesota, is among the observers. With a profound connection to El Salvador through her legal practice, Pfahnl expressed her interest in understanding the country’s electoral process. In Concepción Batres, Usulután, she will analyze the entire voting process and subsequently provide recommendations based on her observations.
This mission marks a historic moment as the CIS, for the first time, trained observers in the United States through the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Online sessions were conducted to familiarize observers with the approved modalities of remote Internet voting and in-person voting, as sanctioned by the Legislative Assembly.
Forty-six American observers will be stationed in electoral centers across Boston, Massachusetts; New York; Washington, D.C.; Virginia; Colorado; McAllen and El Paso, Texas; San Francisco and Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and North Carolina. Importantly, none of these centers are affiliated with El Salvador’s consulates or embassies.
Schuld underlined the criteria for becoming an observer, emphasizing the need for political neutrality, a commitment to objectivity, and non-interference in the electoral process. Prospective observers must also attend TSE training sessions to obtain accreditation.
The CIS plans to release a comprehensive report on its observations and conclusions from the elections on Tuesday, providing valuable insights into the integrity and fairness of the electoral process in El Salvador and the United States.