3/31/2016

Explainer:ExpatriateVotingLawsinLatinAmerica|AS/COA

Explainer:ExpatriateVotingLawsinLatinAmerica

Argentinescancastvotesinpresidentialandcongressionalelectionswhileoverseas.(APPhoto)
RachelGlickhouseandMarkKeller
May10,2012
Duetolargeexpatriatepopulations,manyLatinAmericancountrieshaveadoptedlawsthatallow
citizenstovoteabroad.Somecountries,suchastheDominicanRepublicandPeru,havesignificant
portionsofvoterslivinginEuropeandtheUnitedStates,givingmorepoliticalclouttoexpats.Other
countries,includingColombiaandEcuador,permitoverseasresidentstoelectlegislatorstorepresent
expatcommunitiesinnationalcongresses.AS/COAOnlinetakesalookatsomeofthelegislationin
LatinAmericathatallowsforoverseasvotingandthesizeofLatinAmericanvoterblocsabroad.
Argentina:In1991,ArgentinapassedLaw24007,allowingitscitizenstoregistertovoteabroadand
passeda1993decreetoamendthelawandsetupthelegalframeworkforoverseasvoting.Argentines
abroadcanvoteforbothpresidentialandvicepresidentialcandidates,aswellasfederalcongressional
candidates.Whilevotingismandatoryvoterswhomissanelectionmustjustifytheirlackofavoteat
anelectoralcourtorfacefinesoverseasvotingisnotobligatory.
DuringtheOctober2011presidentialelections,over50,000Argentinesoverseasregisteredtovote.The
largestvotergroupwasintheUnitedStatesLosAngeleswasthecitywiththelargestgroupofvoters
worldwideat6,000.
Bolivia:Thecountryselectoralcodeof1984allowsforBolivianstovoteforpresidentandvice
presidentoverseas.ButitwasntuntilthepassageofanewconstitutioninOctober2008anda
transitionalelectorallawinApril2009thatoverseasvotingbecameareality.
Inmid2009,thegovernmentselectoralcourtbegansettingupthetechnicalprocesstoallowforvoting
abroad.Initially,thegovernmenthopedtoregister300,000votersoutoftheestimated2million
Bolivianslivingoutsideofthecountry.ThefirstoverseasvotewasheldinArgentina,Brazil,Spain,and
theUnitedStatesduringtheDecember2009elections,whenover169,000Bolivianslivingabroad
registeredtovote.PresidentEvoMoralesevencampaignedinSpain,hometoapproximately300,000
Bolivians.
Brazil:ThefirstlawallowingforcitizenstovoteabroadpassedintheElectoralCodeof1965,during
Brazils21yearmilitarydictatorship.ThecodeprovidedforBrazilianstovoteforpresidentandvice
http://www.ascoa.org/articles/explainerexpatriatevotinglawslatinamerica

1/5

3/31/2016

Explainer:ExpatriateVotingLawsinLatinAmerica|AS/COA

presidentatconsulatesabroad.However,therulewasonlyputintopracticewiththepassageofthe
constitutionof1988,whichestablishedalegalframeworktoimplementvotingabroad.Thefirst
presidentialelectionwithoverseasvoterstookplacein1989.Now,theSenateisexaminingaproposalto
allowBrazilianslivingabroadtoelectrepresentativesinBrazilslowerhouseofCongress.Votingis
mandatoryinBrazil,andthosewhomissanelectioneveniftheyliveabroadmustjustifytheirvote
andpayafine,orrisklosingcertainrightssuchasapplyingforapassportorreceivingcreditfroma
governmentruninstitution.
TheUnitedStatesishometothelargestgroupofexternalvoters,andNewYorkhasthelargestelectoral
pooloutsideBrazil,withmorethan21,000registeredvotersin2010.Duringthe2010presidential
election,200,394overseasBraziliansregisteredtovote,butonly44.5percentofthesecastballotsduring
thefirstvotinground.
Colombia:In1961,ColombiapassedLaw39,whichallowedcitizenslivingoverseastovote.Thelaw
wasfirstusedin1962,whenover3,000Colombiansabroadvotedforpresident.In1986,thegovernment
reformedtheelectoralcode,maintainingtherighttovoteinpresidentialelectionsabroad.The1991
constitutionmadeitpossibleforColombiansbothtravelingandlivingabroadtovoteoverseas.Italso
mandatedthatColombianscouldvoteinelectionsfortheSenateaswellasthepresidency.Inaddition,
theConstitutionincludedaprovisionforColombianresidentsabroadtoelectarepresentativein
Congress.However,thisruledidnotgointoeffectuntilthepassageofLaw649in2001,whichallowed
Colombianstobeginelectingacongressionalrepresentativethefollowingyear.
DuringtheJune2010presidentialelection,415,000Colombiansabroadwereeligibletovote.
CostaRica:PassedinSeptember2009,CostaRicasrevisedelectoralcodeallowsexpatriatestovotein
presidentialelectionsandnationalreferendumsatconsulatesworldwide.VotersmusthaveanationalID
cardandregisterpriortoelections.Inmid2010,CostasRicaselectoraltribunalbeganpreparationsfor
votingproceduresabroadandforthe2014presidentialelection.Thegovernmentisestablishingan
electronicvotingsysteminconsulatesoverseastoattendtotheestimated200,000CostaRicansliving
abroad.
DominicanRepublic:TheDominicanRepublicgrantedoverseascitizenstherighttovoteforpresident
andvicepresidentin1997throughElectoralLaw27597,withplanstobegintheprocessin2000.
However,CentralElectoralBoardbudgetconstraintspreventedenforcementuntilthe2004presidential
election.A2010constitutionalreform,approvedbyCongressin2011,grantedDominicansabroadthe
righttovoteforrepresentationinthecountrysChamberofDeputiesaswell.ThisyearsMay20
presidentialelectionwillbethefirsttimeDominicansabroadwillelectthreedeputies:twotorepresent
DominicanslivingintheCaribbeanandLatinAmerica,twoforEurope,andthreeforCanadaandthe
UnitedStates.Dominicansabroadcanvoteattheirlocalconsularoffices,thoughareaswithlarge
Dominicanpopulationsalsosetupexternalvotingcenters.
Forthisyearselection,thereare328,649Dominicansabroadregisteredtovote.Sixtyeightpercentof
theseliveintheUnitedStateswithacombinedpopulationlargerthan27ofthe31provincesofthe
DominicanRepublic.MostofthesevotersresideinMassachusetts,NewJersey,andNewYork.Spain
hostsanother19percentoftheDominicanvoteabroad,andalmost4percentresideinPuertoRicoand
therestoftheCaribbean.
Ecuador:InSeptember2002,EcuadorsCongresspassedtheVotingLawforEcuadoransAbroad,
allowingcitizenslivingoverseastovoteforpresidentandvicepresident.Thefirstelectionsheldabroad
tookplacein2006,andEcuadoranswerealsoabletovoteonreferendumsin2007,2008,and2011.In
September2008EcuadoransvotedforareferendumtoestablishanewConstitution,allowingthemto
http://www.ascoa.org/articles/explainerexpatriatevotinglawslatinamerica

2/5

3/31/2016

Explainer:ExpatriateVotingLawsinLatinAmerica|AS/COA

voteabroadforotherrepresentatives,includingmayorsandgovernors.
Duringthe2009presidentialelections,over184,000Ecuadoransregisteredtovote,withthelargestvoter
baseinSpainatover100,000registeredvoters.Startingin2009,Ecuadoransabroadwerealsoallowedto
electsixrepresentativestotheNationalAssemblytorepresentEcuadorsexpatriates.
Honduras:ThoughHondurashadthelegalframeworkinplaceforvotingabroadwiththeElectoraland
PoliticalOrganizationsLaworiginallypassedin1979,itwasntuntil2000thatthecountrysCongress
passedtheSpecialLawfortheExerciseofSuffrageofHonduransAbroad,whichallowedforoverseas
voting.ThelawallowsHonduranstovoteinpresidentialelectionsatconsularofficesabroad,butthefirst
electionwithoverseasvotingheldin2001onlyhadpollsinsixcitiesintheUnitedStates.Inordertobe
eligible,votersmustregisterwiththeNationalElectoralCensusbeforevotingandarerequiredtohavea
HonduranIDcard.
DuringthemostrecentpresidentialelectioninNovember2009,nearly20,000HonduransintheUnited
Statesregisteredtovote.ThegovernmentisnowconsideringopeningvotinginSpainforthe2013
presidentialelections.
Mexico:Mexicansabroadlobbiedfortheirrighttovoteinthe1990s,basedontheirlargeimpactonthe
Mexicaneconomythroughremittances.The1996PoliticalReformoftheStateremovedtherequirement
thatMexicansvotewithintheirresidentialdistrict,butstillrequiredcitizensabroadtoreturntothe
countrytovote.In2005,legislationpassedtheMexicanCongressgivingcitizensabroadtherightto
participateinpresidentialelections.Tovotefromabroad,MexicansmustberegisteredwiththeFederal
ElectoralInstitutesRegistryofVotersResidingAbroad.Todoso,Mexicansmustpresentaphotocopyof
theelectoralvotingcardtoauthoritieseitherbyvisitingtheirlocalconsulate,orsubmittingforms
throughthemail.TheFederalElectionInstitutethenmailsaballottothevoter,whichmustbereturned
beforeelectiondayinMexico.However,oneofthelimitationstoMexicosexternalvotingisthe
requirementthatMexicansholdaphysicalelectoralvotingcard,whichcanonlybeobtainedinMexico.
ManyMexicansabroadespeciallyunauthorizedmigrantsareunableorunwillingtomakethejourney
hometoobtainone.
Thoughover10millionMexicanscitizensliveoutsideMexico,only55,000registeredtovoteinthe
2006election.Thisyear,despitegreateroutreach,thatnumberincreasedtoonly62,000.Ofthese,the
majority45,000comefromtheUnitedStates,withTexasandCaliforniamakinguphalfthattotal.
Canada,witharound3,000registeredvoters,isthesecondlargestsourceofvotersSpain,with2,000,is
third.
Panama:ThoughPanamas1983electoralcodepermittedPanamanianslivingabroadtovote,thelaw
requiredexpatriatestoreturnhometovote.Inlate2006,areformtotheelectoralcodepassedby
CongressallowedPanamanianstovoteabroadforpresidentandvicepresident.Toreducecosts,the
ElectoralTribunalagreedtousemailinballotsandsetupavoterregistry.
ByApril2008,only1,706votersregistered,thelargemajorityintheUnitedStates.Thefirstoverseas
votetookplaceduringtheMay2009presidentialelections,thoughtheElectoralTribunalreceivedless
than500votesfromoverseasbythedayoftheelections.Onelimitationtooverseasvotingisthat
Panamanianswhoacquiredcitizenshipabroadcannotvote.
Peru:VotinginPeruismandatory,andcitizensfaceafineiftheyfailtovote,eveniftheyliveabroad.
PerusElectionLawfrom1998allowsPeruviansoverseastovoteforpresidentandinreferendums.
Becauseofremittances,Peruvianslivingabroadrepresentthesecondlargestregionofthecountryin
termsofeconomicimpact.
http://www.ascoa.org/articles/explainerexpatriatevotinglawslatinamerica

3/5

3/31/2016

Explainer:ExpatriateVotingLawsinLatinAmerica|AS/COA

DuringtheApril2011presidentialelection,754,000Peruviansregisteredtovoteabroad,withover
240,000registeredintheUnitedStates.Duringthefirstroundofelections,over402,000Peruvians
overseascastvotes,thoughnearlyaquarterofthemwerenullorblankvotes.InthesecondroundinJune
2011,someconsideredoverseasvoterstobeapossiblecriticalbloctodecidetheelections,butaround50
percentofregisteredoverseasvotersfailedtoappearatthepolls.Roughly70percentofthevotescast
abroadwereforKeikoFujimori,whileOllantaHumalawontheelection.
Paraguay:Paraguaysconstitutionof1992blockedcitizensfromvotingabroad.InApril2011,
ParaguaysCongressvotedforanamendmenttotheConstitutiontoallowoverseasvotingrightsfor
citizens.TheconstitutionalreformwassanctionedinOctober2011,whenParaguayansvotedinfavorof
areferendumtopermitvotingabroad.Over722,000Paraguayansliveabroad,withthelargest
constituencyinSpain.
ParaguayanslivingoverseaswillbeabletovoteinthenextpresidentialelectioninApril2013.Asof
February2012,around20,000Paraguayanslivingabroadregisteredtovote.Oneoftheobstaclestovote
isthatParaguayansmusthaveavalidnationalidentificationcard,thoughmanylivingabroadhave
expiredIDs.AnamendmenttoallowParaguayanstousetheirpassportstovotefailedtopassin
Congress.
Venezuela:Venezuelas1999BolivarianConstitutionenshrinedtherightofcitizenstovotefromabroad,
thoughitwasfirstexercisedin2003.VenezuelansabroadmustenrollintheElectoralRegistryattheir
localconsulate.Thougheachconsulatesrulesaredistinct,mostrequireVenezuelanstoshowupin
personattheirlocalconsulatetoenroll.Venezuelansmustprovideproofoftheircitizenshipandtheir
legalrighttoresideabroad.AsofApril15,2012VenezuelasNationalElectoralCouncilcounted99,626
registeredvotersabroadintheElectoralRegistry.TheVenezuelanoppositionCoalitionforDemocratic
Unityestimatesthat600,000eligibleVenezuelanvotersliveabroad.
Duringthisyearsenrollmentperiod,manyVenezuelansabroadcomplainedoflonglines,shortconsular
hours,andotherhurdlestoregistering.TheclosingoftheMiamiConsulateinwhosejurisdictionone
thirdofexpatVenezuelanvotersresideinJanuary2012alsoraisedconcernsaboutthatjurisdictions
residentsabilitytoregistertovote,andfortheirparticipationinpresidentialelectionsinOctober.
Venezuelansabroadtendtobefiercelyantichavista:90percentofvoterssupportedPresidentHugo
Chvezsrecallin2004,thoughthemeasurefailedwith60percentagainstinVenezuela.Venezuelan
expatsareconsideredloyaloppositionvoters.
WhichCountriesAreStillReformingLawstoAllowExpatVoting?
NotallLatinAmericancountriesallowcitizensabroadtocastballots.ChilesCongressrejectedareform
toallowoverseasvotinginMay2011.InUruguay,areferendumtoallowoverseasvotingfailedtopass
inFebruary2009.Now,Chileansabroadarepressuringforreformstoallownearly1millionexpatsto
vote.UruguaysBroadFrontpartyismakingsimilarcalls,seekingelectoralreformoranother
referendumtoenfranchisetheestimated600,000Uruguayansabroad.
SeveralCentralAmericancountrieslackoverseasvoting.ElSalvadorbeganexploringexpatsuffrage
earlythisyear,andGuatemalansabroadstillawaitareformtoelectorallawdespiteaJune2011rulingin
favorofoverseasvotingbythecountrysconstitutionalcourt.AlthoughNicaraguaselectorallawallows
foroverseasvotinginpresidentialandcongressionalelections,theNicaraguangovernmenthasnotheld
votingabroadyet.

Related
http://www.ascoa.org/articles/explainerexpatriatevotinglawslatinamerica

4/5

3/31/2016

Explainer:ExpatriateVotingLawsinLatinAmerica|AS/COA

Issues/Democracy&Elections
PuertoRico'sDiasporaOffersItsBestChanceforChange

March22,2016
StatesidePuertoRicansshouldusetheirvotetoadvocatefortheisland.

Events
Upcoming
ViewAll
2016LatinAmericanCitiesConferencesSoPaulo

April05,2016

Past
ViewAll
NewSkillsatWork:EducationfortheLaborForceasaDriverforDevelopmentandInclusion

March31,2016

http://www.ascoa.org/articles/explainerexpatriatevotinglawslatinamerica

5/5