The Government, Decentralization and Regionalization Commission of the Senate, chaired by Manuel José Ossandón, yesterday began the analysis of the project, in the first constitutional process, which modifies various legal bodies, to perfect the electoral system and hold the municipal and regional elections in October this year in two days (October 26 and 27).
As based on the message, “for the October 2024 elections, the nine hours that, on average, a polling station operates on an election or plebiscite day are not enough,” and if this situation is not amended , “the Electoral Service anticipates that on election day there might be extensive lines and long waits between voters, which would make it difficult to exercise the right to vote.”
Furthermore, at the request of Servel, so that the incorporation of an additional day of elections does not negatively impact the citizens and sectors involved, it was considered necessary to incorporate some measures, such as the precision of the holiday that cannot be waived only for Sunday. October 27th.
This, added to the end of the “dry law”, with the suppression of the prohibition on the sale of alcohol on election day or plebiscites.
In another order, and “to make the fine collection procedures more efficient”, it is established that the notifications made by the Local Police Courts will be made by email, and only exceptionally, by certified letter.
Meanwhile, regarding the procedure for appointing table members, the period of the function is modified, going from four years to two general electoral processes; and, it is established that voters who fulfill the functions of members may not be reappointed for a period of eight years counting from the second electoral process in which they served as members.
Unavoidable holiday
From the Chillán Chamber of Commerce, its president, Alejandro Lama, said he “strongly agrees with the need to exercise the right to vote in two days, due to the number of ballots. It seems very reasonable to me. What seems good to us is also the end of the dry law. I believe that people have enough culture not to walk down the street ‘cured’ and go vote. Regarding the inalienable holiday, we do not agree on that point, because we think it limits the freedom of commerce, the consumer’s freedom to choose. Because the people who vote on Saturday will be free on Sunday. So, it seems to us that it threatens the freedom of trade. On that point we definitely disagree. In the rest, yes, the right to vote should be expanded.”
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