The Country is
Getting Ready To Vote
With only five days to
go, the country is
getting ready for the
historic referendum vote
that will decide the
future of the Tratado de
Libre Comercio (TLC) -
free trade agreement
with the United States.
The Tribunal Supremo de
Elecciones (TSE) -
elections tribunal - has
been working feverishly
to ensure that the
voting takes place
without any problems.
And unlike the national
elections where
political party members
appoint workers at the
voting booths, the TSE
will directly employ the
9.900 workers, who will
be paid ¢30.000 colones
(us$58) each for the
day.
The workers, according
to Héctor Fernández,
coordinador for "Programas
Electorales", will
ensure the control of
the voting ballots and
will count the votes at
the end of the day.
Fernández added that the
majority have
experience, working the
municipal elections last
December.
The TSE also warned the
media against the
publication of
propaganda, commentary
and information,
including results of
opinion polls, beginning
at midnight Friday,
October 5, allowing
voters a time to reflect
and decided on their
vote without influence
from the media.
Luis Antonio Sobrado,
president of the TSE,
said the ban will be
lifted at 9:00pm Sunday
when the voting results
will begin to be
announced.
The TSE will also be
making available 190.000
bus tickets to be used
by voters to get a ride
to and from the voting
booths. The bus tickets
can be used on any of
the bus routes around
the country and can be
obtained at the TSE
central offices in San
José or any of the 32
branches.
Voters need only to
present their cedula and
declaration of their
residence. The TSE will
provide the voter with a
return bus ticket, which
are being donated by 90%
of the bus companies.
The other notable change
for the referendum vote
is that there is no ban
on the sale of alcohol
like during elections.
Restaurants,
supermarkets and liquor
stores do not have to
close off the sale of
liquor, beer or wine and
bars can stay open.
Traditionally, during
presidential and
municipal elections, the
sale and consumption of
liquor is banned for
three days - the day
before, the day during
and the day following an
election. |
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