Polling centers across Guatemala closed Sunday evening and poll workers began tallying votes for hundreds of congressional and local races. Despite this, the wide presidential field was only expected to be narrowed and require a runoff.
While some isolated incidents reportedly interrupted the vote in some localities, voting appeared to have been orderly and peaceful throughout most of the country.
With none of the 22 presidential candidates polling near the required 50% threshold for winning outright, a second round of voting on Aug. 20 between the top two finishers was almost certain. Experts predict that this run-off will determine the country’s next president.
At a polling place in central Guatemala City, a bell tolled and people cheered as voting closed with few still in line waiting for their turn to cast their ballots.
“I have faith that it’s going to change, but if change is necessary it has to come from oneself for the government to also do its part,” says Alejandro Cameros, a 30-year-old teacher who expressed his disappointment in the current governmental system.
Iliana Baños, a 34-year-old volunteer supporting poll watchers, prioritized schooling as her top consideration when casting her vote. “It’s not fair in a country with so many needs to not have a thoughtful, critical vote and to act,” she noted.
Despite some isolated complications reported Sunday, voting appeared to be carried out fairly and efficiently for most of the country.
Guatemala’s Election Marred by Voter Suppression Allegations
Guatemala’s latest presidential election has come under fire from both sides of the political spectrum after allegations of voter suppression and irregularities arose. Reports from several municipalities, including San Martin Zapotitlan and San Jose del Golfo, suggest that outsiders had been bused in to vote, prompting locals to block voting centers and set fire to ballots.
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal canceled voting in San Jose del Golfo due to the disturbances, rescheduling it for August 20th during the second round of presidential voting. The organization Electoral Lookout reported other issues such as purchased votes and intimidation towards journalists.
The accusations of voter suppression will come as a blow to President Alejandro Giammattei, who had hailed the elections as a sign of Guatemala’s stable democracy. However, several outsider candidates, including Thelma Cabrera, were excluded from the ballot, leading to claims that the vote was rigged in favor of the political establishment.
Despite these controversies, periodic, free, and participatory elections remain a cornerstone of Guatemala’s democratic process.
Guatemala’s Presidential Election Controversy
Guatemala is holding presidential elections, but the run-up has been a tumultuous one, with various candidates being barred for perceived violations and irregularities. Two right-wing populist candidates were denied spots due to alleged irregularities in their nomination process. The two leading contenders are conservative and campaigned on tough security measures and conservative family values.
The country hasn’t had a leftist government in almost seven decades since a leftist government was overthrown in a CIA-backed coup. Frustration with high crime, poverty, malnutrition, official corruption, and government moves against anti-corruption activists have led to concerns about the democratic process.
Former Guatemalan attorney general, Thelma Aldana, who sought asylum in the United States under the grounds of political persecution, wrote on Twitter that “corruption and impunity” need to be addressed for there to be free and democratic elections in Guatemala.
