ATLANTA (July 24, 2020) — The Carter Center supports the decision by Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal to postpone Bolivia’s election from Sept. 6 to Oct. 18 in response to concerns about the current spread of COVID-19.
The Center urges all Bolivian political forces to recognize that this decision is based on a nonpartisan assessment and is driven by a desire to conduct a safe electoral process. It notes that the electoral tribunal’s assessment of COVID-19 developments in Bolivia is based on national and international studies that predict the pandemic will peak between July and early September. The additional time will allow for the implementation of biosecurity measures that will help ensure smooth electoral logistical processes. The Center also acknowledges the constitutional mandate that requires new executive and legislative authorities to be sworn in before the end of 2020.
The Carter Center is concerned that political actors across the spectrum have made statements undermining the work of the election authorities. It encourages all political forces in Bolivia to take measures to increase public confidence in the electoral process, including by supporting the tribunal.
The Center is committed to supporting Bolivia’s democratic elections and its independent electoral authorities. To that end, the Center will organize a remote expert mission to analyze key aspects of the Bolivian electoral process, including political, legal, and administrative challenges to conducting elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Center’s remote expert mission will focus on the impact of COVID-19 on the electoral process. The mission is limited in size and scope and will focus its assessments on several key parts of the electoral process, particularly the legal and administrative electoral framework, electoral preparations, the campaign environment – including freedom of the media – respect for core participatory rights throughout the process, and the use of social media. The remote mission will use international human rights obligations and standards for democratic elections as the basis for its assessments.
Carter Center experts will conduct virtual interviews with key electoral stakeholders: political parties, the electoral tribunal, the Bolivian government, civil society organizations, international and national observer missions, diplomatic missions, and international organizations.
Although mission members will endeavor to be present on election day, their ability to deploy to Bolivia depends on international travel conditions. The Carter Center will provide an impartial and independent public report about critical pre- and post-election issues. It also will release a final report approximately two months after the conclusion of the process.
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Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, [email protected]
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
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