Noviembre 13, 2005
Bolivians Demand the External Vote
Bolivian residents in Argentina will begin a hunger strike in protest of the lack of voting rights abroad. According to the Constitution, there is a provision that allow for Bolivians who live outside of the country to have the right to cast their vote. However, there is not a formal mechanism in place to allow that to happen. Logistical and financial obstacles are key issues to consider. It is far too late to implement something for the December elections, but there is hope that for the next elections (whenever that is) that this process would be defined.
This will also give the politicians time to determine who would actually benefit from the suffrage of an approximate a large portion of eligible voters. Some say that there are an approximate 2 million Bolivians who live outside of the country (which is about 25% of the total population).
A hunger strike in the U.S., especially Virginia, would be unheard of. Most Bolivians I have spoken with are strongly in favor of being able to cast a vote here in the U.S. This is something that I favor as well, as it would force Bolivians abroad to take a more active interest in what is happening back in Bolivia. We would probably expect some of the candidates to come to the area to do some campaigning and baby-kissing.
Posted by eduardo at Noviembre 13, 2005 10:44 AM
Comments
I find it astonishing that Bolivian people cannot vote from abroad. It seems like such a natural accomodation. When I lived in Singapore, I did it all the time and it was no problem, we had a very no-hassle US embassy that always accomodated us very well on all matters - visa extensions, extra pages, quickie passport, 4th of July party, Marines socials, and certainly voting.
In Mexico, I think they recently extended the right to vote abroad and I was stunned at the criticism from US people over it. Like it was any of their business! Like it was a right they didn't have themselves! Too many US citizens get very irrational and stupid when it comes to Mexicans, they are always sure that Mexicans are getting more than they are. It's got to stop.
Meanwhile, if you want to see how many ways there are to pull shenanigans on voters abroad, check out how badly Venezuela has handled that matter, it's really a textbook example of what not to do. Most Venezuelans think it was perfectly intentional.
Most Venezuelans and US citizens abroad vote conservatively, or rather, for the least-communist candidate. Do most Bolivians abroad vote to the right or the left?
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at Noviembre 13, 2005 11:06 PM
Part of it is that Bolivia does not the mechanism for the Matricula Consular, which Mexico already has in service. First things first, Bolivia needs to know who is here by registering eligible voters. Also, the consulate staff abroad is far too small to accomodate such a large undertaking.
I have been impressed with the Bolivian consulate but they are not ready for a vote like this.
Posted by: eduardo at Noviembre 13, 2005 11:39 PM
Actually, in Mexico's case, the overseas voting is not being run by the consulates but by the IFE, their federal electoral institute. Also, voters still need elector's cards and can't use their matricula consulars to vote. Still, even a mail-in vote system would be feasible for Bolivians, I think.
The reason it finally happened in Mexico is that politicians couldn't deny the economic clout of expatriates who send $20B a year back home. Bolivians in the US should use the strength of their remittances as a bargaining chip.
Posted by: O at Noviembre 15, 2005 12:20 PM