IFES observers in Paraguay are urging electoral officials to change the way they transmit and release preliminary results before general elections on April 20.

Currently, the Tribunal Superior de Justicia Electoral, or TSJE, waits to release preliminary results until 80 percent of the votes are counted. IFES urged the tribunal to release results sooner to eliminate uncertainty surrounding the election outcome and increase transparency in the vote counting process.

The IFES observation team made the recommendations as part of a pre-election technical assessment report released at a press conference in Asunción March 26. The report includes recommendations for the election tribunal, as well as political parties, nongovernmental organizations and voters. The report also recommends introducing a system using modern communication techniques to transmit vote tallies to the national level in a transparent way enabling political parties and civil society organizations to audit them.

IFES’ long-term observation team arrived in Paraguay in late February and will stay throughout the election process. The delegation includes Gabriel Medrano from Guatemala, Patricio Gajardo from Chile, Luis Sobalvarro from Nicaragua, and Gustavo Villamil from Colombia. Ten more IFES observers are expected to arrive in Asunción on April 16.

The observers are examining the preparations undertaken by Paraguay’s electoral authorities and the general political environment. They are also monitoring the campaign activities of candidates and political parties and meeting with members of civil society, the business community and ordinary citizens.

IFES Regional Director for the Americas Pablo Galarce, who is leading the observation team, said the recommendations are intended to increase transparency, cooperation and participation in the upcoming legislative and presidential elections.

“IFES makes these recommendations in the spirit of brotherhood and with the desire to support and accompany the country in this important democratic exercise,” said Mr. Galarce.

IFES’ recommendations cover a range of activities throughout the election cycle. The observers urged the TSJE to better enforce a law that prohibits political parties and candidates from using state money and resources for partisan activities. The report also recommended that the TSJE administer ‘as soon as possible’ a program to train poll workers and conduct a ‘massive’ civic education campaign to educate citizens about the electoral process.

Political parties were urged to assign technical, legal and education liaisons to work closely with the TSJE on elections and increase cooperation. The report also asked parties to discourage party members from celebrating without confirming and validating an election victory.

The report suggested that domestic observers coordinate their efforts with other organizations to avoid duplication and inform the TSJE that they plan to observe elections in advance in order to obtain credentials and access to polling sites.