A WEB

The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) has dispatched its members to observe a runoff presidential election scheduled for August 20, 2023, in Guatemala. This initiative comes in response to an invitation extended by the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) of Guatemala. The first round of the election took place on June 25.

The A-WEB Mission, led by Dr. Carmen Milagros Velarde-Koechlin, who serves as the Head of the National Civil Registry of Peru, comprises four election officials from three countries: Colombia, Paraguay, and Peru. Their deployment will be centered in Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala, from August 17 to August 21.

During the opening ceremony on August 18, Dr. Irma Elizabeth Palencia Orellana, President of Guatemala's TSE, extended a warm welcome to the international observers, underscoring their pivotal role in fortifying democracy.

Responding to Dr. Irma Elizabeth Palencia Orellana's welcome address, Dr. Carmen Milagros Velarde-Koechlin, the leader of the A-WEB Mission, shared A-WEB's unwavering dedication to enhancing democratic processes. She elaborated on the mission's objectives, which include fostering a deeper comprehension of election systems and facilitating the exchange of best practices in election management.

After the ceremony, international observers attended an election rehearsal organized by TSE. This rehearsal aimed to verify the successful transmission of data from voting centers both within and outside the country. 

On August 19, the TSE of Guatemala facilitated an opportunity for international observers to witness the collaborative efforts between TSE, volunteer citizens, and other governmental bodies in preparing for the election. In the subsequent presentation, TSE detailed its transmission and security mechanism. They highlighted their use of blockchain technology to ensure the security of transmitting preliminary election results.

During the briefing by TSE, members of the A-WEB Mission were introduced to the implementation of some of our recommendations that were proposed following the general elections in June. Dr. Carmen Velarde Koechlin expressed her appreciation for TSE's dedication to improving its election administration. The rest of the Mission also actively participated in the session, posing questions and offering feedback on Guatemala's election system."

In the afternoon, the A-WEB Mission conducted its briefing session. Within this session, participants exchanged their viewpoints on the upcoming presidential election runoff and the code of conduct, all from the perspective of international observers.

Additionally, they meticulously examined the questions outlined in the checklist, identifying the specific areas they were required to observe on the day of the election.

On August 20, the citizens of Guatemala participated in a presidential runoff election.

At 5:45 AM, all the international observers embarked on an observation mission to witness the commencement of voting at the Centro Deportivo Parque Erick Bernabe Barrondo. The observers noted the presence of all polling table members at the precinct, with arrangements made to facilitate smooth voter turnout.

Later in the day, the A-WEB Mission visited five voting centers located in Zones 5, 10, and 15 of Guatemala City. Notably, many of the polling table members had previously worked during the initial round of the elections held on June 25. This experience was evident as they executed their tasks with apparent proficiency.

As the polls closed at 6 PM, the poll workers promptly initiated the vote-counting procedures, adhering to the provided guidelines. The Mission observed that the polling table members diligently completed the necessary documentation and transmitted the preliminary vote-count results. 

Upon the dismantling of polling booths, the proper packing of associated materials, and the submission of paperwork to designated locations by the poll workers, the international observers concluded their visit and departed from the voting center.

Following their return from the final voting center, where the Mission oversaw the procedures of vote counting and result transmission, the A-WEB Mission conducted a debriefing session. During this session, participants shared their analyses of Guatemala's electoral process based on their observations and engaged in discussions about areas where improvements could be made in election administration. 

   

All members of the A-WEB Mission conveyed their gratitude to Guatemala's TSE for extending an invitation to witness the 2023 presidential runoff election within their nation.