In a resounding display of support, President Nayib Bukele secured an impressive 98% of votes from Salvadorans living abroad, according to preliminary results released by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). The diaspora actively participated in the recent presidential and legislative elections, with a total of 326,766 expatriates casting their votes through both online and in-person electronic methods.

The majority of expatriate voters, a staggering 97.6%, who possess Salvadoran identity cards with foreign addresses, utilized online voting, totaling 240,339. Of these, an overwhelming 237,070 individuals expressed their trust in President Nayib Bukele, with only a 1.4% minority opting for candidates from other political parties.

Those Salvadorans holding identity cards with local addresses participated through in-person electronic voting at embassies, consulates, or designated TSE locations. A total of 86,427 expatriates chose this option, with 95.8% voting for a second term for President Nayib Bukele. The remaining percentages were distributed among candidates from various political parties.

The results point to a clear and decisive victory for the Nuevas Ideas candidate in both voting modalities among the Salvadoran diaspora. However, experts caution that the final outcome may fluctuate as the remaining 29.75% of votes are scrutinized and those cast by Salvadorans on February 18th are considered.

This election marked a historic moment as it was the first time that the necessary conditions were provided for the diaspora to actively participate in popular election processes. The move was widely applauded by Salvadorans, many of whom overcame significant obstacles, such as long-distance travel and adverse weather conditions, to reach the nearest polling centers.

The highest voter turnout among expatriates was observed in the United States, with significant participation also noted in countries such as Mexico, Spain, and Guatemala. Despite potential variations in the final results, the prevailing trend strongly favors Nuevas Ideas, reflecting the overwhelming endorsement from Salvadorans abroad for President Nayib Bukele.