Allowing automatic registration when processing the personal identification document (DPI) is one of the reforms that were discussed at the last meeting of the Electoral Update and Modernization Commission (Came), in which social and political organizations raised 1,256 proposals, 288 related to the electoral process.
In addition to the proposal to establish automatic registration, others are added, such as eliminating the settlement requirement for those who want to compete for a popular election position, shortening the transition period and extending the electoral campaign period, as well as using the passport as a means of identification to be able to vote, especially in the case of Guatemalans residing abroad.
Postures
Alejandro Quinteros, a member of the Alliance for an Efficient Congress, one of the organizations that participated in Came, believes that automatic registration is important when processing the DPI, considering that there will be greater participation.
Quinteros also maintains that it is viable to extend the time for the electoral campaign, considering that the participation spaces for recently created parties are very short.
“Very little space is left for political organizations to make their work plans known. Short campaign times only benefit the big parties,” he noted.
Regarding the transition period, he considers that “a month and a half” is enough for the incoming government to learn regarding the work of the agencies that will be in charge.
Expand campaign
Ingrid de León, representative of the Guatemalan Forum of Women of Political Parties, agrees that it is convenient to approve automatic processes such as registration with the issuance of the DPI, and that recently created parties have more space to socialize their projects.
“That is why we are analyzing extending the times of the electoral campaign,” he said.
“As for the transition periods, they must be shortened so that they do not groups emerge that want to hinder the results, as happened in 2023,” he added.
During the Came meetings, it was also proposed to establish clarity around article 113 of the Magna Carta, on the suitability of the applicants.
According to De León, the suitability of a candidate for elected office is not only a matter of judgment, but parameters must be taken into account to qualify this aspect, in order to guarantee impartiality.
Foreign vote
Débora Quiacaín, from Winaq, says that it is not regarding extending campaign deadlines, but rather establishing equitable parameters.
“Define, for example, how many billboards a party should have, so that he who has more money does not produce more image,” he explained.
Regarding being able to use the passport to vote abroad, he said that it is a reform that would help more Guatemalans be able to vote.
On the other hand, in the opinion of Jorge Cruz, of the Consortium for Democratic Strengthening, The settlement is a barrier to political participation, so it should be eliminated.
La Came concluded its analysis tables and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal hopes to have a bill in the second week of April.
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