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Wanda Vázquez Garced becomes law, the new Electoral Code



With the opposition of the minority, and with just weeks to the primarythe governor Wanda Vázquez Garced turned today into law the new version of the Electoral Code proposed by the president of the Senate Thomas Rivera Schatz and that led to the rejection of the entire community outside the government New Progressive Party (PNP).

“On complex measures such as different Codes, it is extremely difficult for all the parties are in complete agreement on all points. My responsibility as governor is to evaluate the measure in its entirety. Once that is amended, and then re-review, I’ve made the determination to sign this important project,” said Vázquez Garced in a written communication.

The governor, who claimed to have heard the complaint from all sectors, did not convene a conference in answering any of the questions from the press on the subject.

In written communication the governor stressed that the Senate bill 1314 was amended and eliminated the vote by the internet, which initially raised objections of organizations not only in Puerto Rico but in the united States.

Other objections of the minority policies, which prevented the consensus, such as the removal of the vice-presidencies and secretariats in the State Elections Commission (CEE) remained in the measure. The governor justified that these changes reduce the expenses of the government in the order of $500,000 in the case of the vice-presidencies. It also emphasized that it is expanding the categories of “absentee voting” and “vote in advance”, subject intensely objected to by the other parties.

“Equally, have the right to vote with the method of voting in advance all voters active in the General Register of the Elector who so requests, and a curse, that the day of the election would be complications to attend a College from Voting for reasons of work, being a caregiver only, hospitalization, travel, be a candidate, physical impairment, confined, constituent with a vote of easy access in the home by being bedridden or for other reasons, and elector in a house of accommodation”, says the communication issued by The Fortress. This last, said the governor, comes on the recommendation of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Senator Eduardo Bhatiawho aspires to the governorship by the opposition Popular Democratic Party (PDP), has interpreted the project as an attempt to facilitate the vote-by-mail supporters of the NPP who emigrated.

The chairman of the PDP, Anibal Jose Torreswhen he learns of the new law, alleged that the governor “he (it) betrayed the country” because he had originally spoken of a consensus between parties before reforming the electoral law.

The Governor has not fulfilled his word. It was she who expressed publicly that it would not sign a project that lacked the endorsement of all stakeholder groups. It was she who lacked not only his word, but that failed in the country to convert into Law the Electoral Code,” said Torres.

For his part, the mayor of Isabela and gubernatorial candidate by the PDP, Carlos “Charlie”Delgado, said: “Wanda Vazquez, lied the day that said he would not sign any such measure as momentous without the consensus of all the parties. The NPP stole during the emergency of the hurricane, stole during the emergency of earthquake, continue stealing during the pandemic, and now they want to steal the election”.

He argued that the Electoral Reform signed by the governor, betrays the principle of consensus election and violates the principle of the intention of the voter.

“With the signing of the Electoral Reform the governor has shown that he prefers to align himself with a faction of the NPP instead of representing all the puerto ricans. Huge betrayal of his initial commitment, and above all to Puerto Rico,” he said, for its part, the electoral commissioner Party Indepedentista Puerto Rican (PIP), Roberto Iván Aponte.

The governor, however, in its communication stated that: “we agree that puerto ricans should exercise their right to vote, without putting in risk your health or the health of their families… there is No reason why any puerto rican domiciled in the island and active in the Electoral Register, that is to be found outside of Puerto Rico on the day of the election, shall be deprived of their rights”. The now law will also extend the opening hours of the polls from 9:00 to.m. to 5:00 p. m.

The past 20 of may, leaders of the PDP, the Movement Victoria Citizen (MVC) and Project Dignity expressed by a letter, its opposition to the bill and requested the governor to the veto.

The arguments of the opposition allege that these changes to the law are produced at very little time of the primaries and the general election. In the same way, point out that electoral reform occurs without the consensus between parties that reigned in the partisan politics of several decades ago.

The author of the project, Rivera Schatz, argued during debate of the measure a few weeks ago that the opposition of the minority responds to an attempt to limit the right to vote of the people, to prevent the vote, advance and absentee voting. We also noted that the PDP has amended the electoral law on previous occasions without consensus.

Will go down in history as the day that Wanda Vazquez, and the PNP leadership endorsed the fraud and election theft. To convert into law the Electoral Code has destroyed 40 years of consensus in Puerto Rico, and the possibilities of peace election. If he has declared the war, as we are going to the trenches”, he reacted against part, Bhatia.

The new law includes several additional provisions that generated a greater or lesser degree of public reactions. For example, it is ordered that by 2024 the identification and registration of voters is done electronically with a system of “Electronic Poll Book”. Also, the voter’s card would not be necessary because it would allow the use of official ids with photos and current. Is transferred to the Office of the Comptroller, Electoral adjudication of applications related to the expenditure of public dissemination of the government, eliminating the Board of Examiners of Ads.

In the same way, people will be able to vote symbolically by the president of the united states to 2024.

The new law provides that the election commissioner of the party in majority will propose candidates for the office of chair and alternate chair of the EEC and that, if the commissioners of minority does not agree with the recommendations, the determination will fall on the governor and the confirmation of the appointment with two-thirds of the Legislative Assembly. The ultimate determination would rest on the plenum of the Supreme Court.

Also re-define what are political parties with franchise changing the goals of electoral support for a party remains registered.

Other provisions of the act include the consolidation or reduction of the administrative offices and elections, including the Boards of registration Permanent you will be relocated in “Integrated Service Centres”. In total there will be no more than 12 of these shipments in all of Puerto Rico.

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