Join CIS in Accompanying the 2012 Mayoral And Legislative Assembly Elections in El Salvador

The Ninth CIS International Election Observation Mission: March 5 - 13, 2012

1. Overview
2. Election Observer Mission Logistics
3. Be a Long-Term Elections Volunteer!
4. 2012 Elections Background and Current Situation
5. How You Can Participate in the Mission

Overview

Be a part of El Salvador´s democractic process by participating in the CIS´ Ninth Election Observation Mission! The CIS is looking for both long-term election volunteers and short-term election observers for the upcoming 2012 Mayoral and Legislative Assembly Elections in El Salvador.  In observing the 2012 Elections, you will have the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the political system in El Salvador and how it continues to evolve.  The 2012 Elections promise to be historic, as they will be the testing grounds for important elections reforms that are currently being passed.  The CIS has coordinated an International Election Observation Mission in every election since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1992, and the final reports that the CIS has issued following the elections have been used consistently as a foundation for debate about election reforms by the Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

Election Observer Mission Logistics

Dates:

The dates of the Ninth CIS International Election Observation Mission are from March 5-13, 2012.

Cost:

The in-country participation cost for Observers will be US$700, which includes coordination, translation, observer training, receptions, local transportation, food and housing (shared rooms with 3+ people).  CIS will reserve a double room for an extra $50/person ($750 total), and a single for an extra $150/person ($850 total) on a first pay, first serve basis while available.  If you don't require housing, your in-country participation cost will be $600.  Please consider making an additional contribution of $50 to the CIS Building Democracy Fund to contribute to civic education.

Application Deadline:

We will be accepting applications until February 6, 2012.

To Apply:

Please download the application form, fill it out, and send it as an email attachment to: Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spambots. Es necesario activar Javascript para visualizarla  

Schedule:

Below is a tentative schedule of events for observers for the mission:

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Be a Long-Term Elections Volunteer with the CIS!

Volunteers are needed to observe the process leading up to the elections and help set up logistics and meetings in the municipalities where the CIS will be observing on Election Day.  We will also need volunteer support in helping to write the final report (compiling observer data, compiling narrative reports, researching and writing analyses on different election issues, translating articles), and conduct follow-up visits to present the final report.

Requirements:

Volunteers must be available for one of the following time periods:

• January 2, 2012 (arrival) - March 30, 2012; or
• October 10, 2011 (arrival) – March 30, 2012; and
• Volunteers who arrive on January 2nd 2012 or October 10th, 2011 can stay on after March 30th, 2012 (suggested departure dates are: April 30, May 30, or June 30th, but are flexible depending on the time you have available) to contribute to compiling the final report, translating it and conducting follow-up presentations of report.

All volunteers must be have an intermediate Spanish level.  Those volunteers interested in helping to compile the final report must have the ability to compile data, write analysis of the CIS observations, and/or do written translations. 

Logistics:

Volunteers are required to cover their own living expenses (housing and food) which should be about $120 per week. You can find your own housing, or the CIS can place you with a host family during your stay. Volunteers are not required to pay the participation fee for Observers, and can get a discount on Spanish studies.

To Apply:

If you are interested in volunteering, please download the application form, fill it out, and send it along with a letter of intention and your C.V. to:  Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spambots. Es necesario activar Javascript para visualizarla

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2012 Elections Background and Current Situation

The elections scheduled for 11 March 2012 will determine the selection of Mayors and City Council Members for El Salvador’s 262 Municipalities as well as representation in the Legislative Assembly for the next 3 years. Twenty years after the signing of the Peace Accords, El Salvador’s democratic process continues to strengthen.  Some important reforms will be implemented in the 2012 elections, making election observation even more critical:

1. Residential voting will be carried out in 9 of the country’s 14 departments: Cuscatlán, Cabanas, Usulután, San Miguel, La Paz, San Vicente, La Union, Morazán, Chalatenango and in the capital cities of San Salvador, San Salvador and Santa Tecla, La Libertad. This is where approximately ½ of the population resides. It means more voting centers closer to where the population lives. In urban areas, people will vote based on where they live rather than being assigned a voting center alphabetically according to their last name.  In rural areas, voting centers will be set up in rural villages closer to where people live in addition to those in the municipal center.

2. A new system allowing for independent candidates and for voting for candidates on the ballot instead of just the political party flag will be implemented. The exact nature of implementing this is still being debated in the Legislative Assembly, but the Supreme Court of Justice handed down a decision resolving that the current system of marking only a party flag is unconstitutional. This will make ballot counting more complex than in previous years.

Democracy depends on whether the election process is transparent—which the presence of international observers can help guarantee.  The work of the CIS observer mission is a source for objective information that has been used as a basis for election reforms by the Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

Other important reforms have NOT been implemented:  El Salvador still lacks a law governing the functioning and financial contributions to political parties. The municipal governments are still elected in a “winner take all” system, where the party who gets the highest number of votes wins the mayorship and all city council seats. This fails to provide pluralistic representation and most mayors and city councils win without even a 50% majority vote. Members of Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) are not elected with a direct vote, but rather assigned based on votes for Deputies in the Legislative Assembly. There are still anomalies in the electoral registry which is the backbone of a transparent election.

The CIS International Observation Mission is an opportunity to learn in depth about the political, social and economic reality of El Salvador as well as contribute to strengthening the democratic process in El Salvador.

Communities, civic organizations and grassroots development organizations have continued to ask the CIS for international observers to guarantee transparent elections for several reasons:

• To observe and provide witness to the electoral process and to potential violations of the electoral code before and during the elections.
• To observe the new system of residential voting and the new ballot and system of vote tallying.
• To provide a presence in order to diminish political intimidation and violence.
• To support the call for implementation of election reforms.

The CIS's Ninth International Election Observation Mission will focus our observation in major cities, areas where the residential vote will be implemented, as well those areas where there is community organization with which the CIS has a relationship.

The Principal Objectives of the Mission Are:

• To contribute to free and fair elections
• Generate a safe environment to stimulate democratic participation
• Observe and inform about the implementation of election reforms
• Deepen our understanding of social and economic structures that govern the country and their impact
• Promote people-to-people solidarity.

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How You Can Participate in the Ninth CIS International Elections Observation Mission 

1. Participate as an ELECTION OBSERVER in the Mission from March 5-13, 2012.  Please see the Elections Observer Mission Logistics listed above. 

2. Be a LONG-TERM VOLUNTEER for 3 or 6 months for the mission, organizing logistics and meetings in the municipalities where we will observe. Please see Volunteer Information listed above!

3. Participate in the CIS INTENSIVE SPANISH LANGUAGE/PRE-ELECTION OBSERVATION PROGRAM February 20th – March 4th prior to the observer program.   This program is for people that want to learn Salvadoran election terminology, study Spanish, and strengthen the role of the observer mission by receiving an intensive training on the electoral process, history, political parties, etc.   People who participate in this program will see the process in a more in-depth manner, and help set up conditions for the mission.  Participants should arrive to San Salvador on Sunday, February 19th.  This program will cost $550 includes housing with a Salvadoran family, breakfast and dinner, Spanish language instruction from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monday – Friday, and special visits in the afternoon and on weekends.  Participants will pay $1,250 to cover your stay from February 19 – March 13, including observation program.  Please mark your interest on your application form.

4. DONATE to the “CIS Building Democracy Fund”, which will help finance civic education to help educate communities on the new voting ballot and process, as well as democratic participation and transportation for civic organizations where there is not residential voting.  Checks can be made out to LOS OLIVOS CIS with a note that says: "Building Democracy Fund" and mailed to LOS OLIVOS CIS / PO BOX 76 / Westmont, IL 60559.  You can also make your donation to the Building Democracy Fund through Paypal by clicking the link below:

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