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Diciembre 11, 2005
Symbolic External Vote
A new initiative called Vive Tu Voto will allow Bolivians living in the Washington DC area and in cyberspace to emit their symbolic, and non-binding vote for the December 18th elections. A couple of Bolivian restaurants will host these voting exercises. This has been an issue that strikes a chord with many Bolivian ex-patriates in the US, Europe, Argentina and Brazil.
From the website:Background info - More than 1 million Bolivians have left the country in search of better professional development opportunities, employment and an improvement of living conditions. As a result, they have left their families, their communities and their constitutional rights.
It is important that the rights of Bolivian citizens are respected inside or outside of the country as indicated by Article 145 of the Electoral Law, which was replaced by the Electoral Code, Law 1984 of June 25, 1999 whose Title III Electors, First Paragraph, Registry, Article 97, which says: "The Vote of Residents Abroad. Bolivian Citizens, residents abroad can vote to elect President and Vice President in the General Elections. This law expresses and regulates that right."
Even if half of the number of potential voters abroad exercised that right, they would undoubtedly affect the outcome of next weekend's vote. Residents in Argentina have also pushed for this right. For now, all they can do is go through the motions.
Posted by eduardo at Diciembre 11, 2005 07:44 PM