Waging Peace:  Guatemala

Monitoring Elections

2003 Elections
A small Carter Center delegation observed Guatemala's 2003 electoral process, focusing on human rights and campaign finance issues relevant to the presidential, legislative, and mayoral elections. The Center's election project sought to heighten domestic and international attention to a broad range of issues, including concerns about voters' access to the polls, access to the media and public resources for all political parties, and significant pre-electoral intimidation and violence.

The November 2003 elections demonstrated an urgent need for full protection of all human rights; economic justice for rural and indigenous people; legislative action, including campaign finance reform; and comprehensive civic education programs.

The Center noted significant problems with inadequate preparation among some election officials, disenfranchisement of many voters because of problems with voters' lists, limited investigation and prosecution of election-related crime by authorities, and widespread incidents of vote buying and intimidation. Problems were most pronounced in the Western Highlands and other primarily indigenous areas characterized by high levels of poverty, weak institutions, and other lingering consequences of the armed conflict.

2003 Presidential Runoff Election
The voting process in the Dec. 28 runoff presidential election was more efficient and without violent incidents, though voter turnout was much lower than during the November balloting.

The Center encouraged a strong role for independent civil society organizations in monitoring the performance of all state institutions. Such civic participation would build upon the unprecedented and constructive role of civil society observers during the 2003 electoral process and help deepen Guatemala's democracy.

1999 Presidential Elections
Carter Center staff participated in the Organization of American States' observation missions to both rounds of the 1999 presidential elections. The first elections since the signing of the Peace Accords, the elections were generally free, fair, and orderly, with a larger turnout of eligible voters than in recent past elections.