El Salvador’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has confirmed a major expansion in voting access for citizens living abroad ahead of the 2027 general elections. Out of 92 total overseas voting centers scheduled worldwide, 58.5% will be located within the United States. This allocation represents an increase of 11 global polling sites compared to the 2024 electoral process, reflecting the electoral body’s strategy to accommodate the growing geographic footprint of the Salvadoran diaspora.
The distribution directly targets key population centers across the American territory, with California leading all jurisdictions by hosting 10 polling stations—the highest concentration of voting centers anywhere outside El Salvador. Other international locations include Canada and Mexico with four sites each, Spain and Italy with three, Australia with two, and 23 other nations operating a single voting center each. According to TSE magistrate president Roxana Soriano, the decision follows continuous evaluation and direct feedback from overseas voters: “We want our diaspora to find better conditions, greater accessibility, and more agile, orderly service when exercising their right to vote.”
The initiative addresses a rapidly expanding electorate registered outside national borders. Official TSE metrics show that out of 6.5 million total eligible Salvadoran voters, 972,517 citizens are currently registered in the overseas voter roll. By expanding physical voting infrastructure alongside digital mechanisms, election authorities aim to streamline ballot processing and reduce logistical hurdles for abroad voters during the upcoming electoral cycle.
To ensure proper administration across all foreign sites, the TSE has formally instructed participating political parties to submit their candidates for the Foreign Voting Electoral Board (JELVEX) and the Foreign Vote Receiving Boards (JRVEX) in compliance with established calendar deadlines. This administrative step marks the beginning of operational preparation for field teams tasked with managing poll worker logistics across all 53 U.S. host cities.