Waging Peace: Bolivia

Monitoring Elections

In January 2009, the new constitution was approved by 60 percent through a national referendum. The Carter Center accompanied the process with the deployment of a small mission of short-term observers who monitored the overall transparency, impartiality, and integrity of the process.

Elections for president, vice president, and members of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly were held on Dec. 6, 2009, followed by departmental and municipal elections on April 4, 2010. In the process leading up to the elections, the country created a new biometric voter registry aimed at increasing security, guaranteeing citizens' rights, and stimulating voters' political participation.

To continue supporting the democratic transformation process in Bolivia, the Center launched a small observation mission in August 2009 to monitor the voter registration process in all nine Bolivian departments.

The Carter Center mission reported that the biometric registry  had large and enthusiastic voter participation and was conducted in accordance with Bolivia's international commitments.

In the lead-up to the Dec. 6, 2009, elections, the biometric registry contributed to greater confidence in the voting process and the acceptance of the results. In addition to the long-term observer teams in place to track the biometric voter registration process, the Center deployed a short-term observation mission to complete a 16-person team to monitor the Dec. 6 general elections.

In general terms, the electoral process appeared peaceful and was characterized by high levels of citizen participation in all stages of the process. More than 90 percent of eligible citizens voted on election day, a record turnout even though voting is obligatory in Bolivia.