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Dominican Republic electoral study reveals record voter abstention
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) of the Dominican Republic has presented a study conducted by the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights (IIDH) through its Electoral Advisory and Promotion Center (CAPEL) regarding voter abstention in the 2024 elections.
The report reveals that abstention has become a structural challenge for the country's democracy. In the 2024 general elections, the national abstention rate reached 45.6%, significantly higher than historical averages of 25% to 40%. The most critical finding concerns Dominican citizens living abroad, where abstention reached 81%, with only 19% of eligible voters participating. This creates a paradox of 'economic citizenship without political citizenship,' as 70.2% of those abroad send regular remittances but do not engage in the electoral process.
Key drivers for this trend include political disaffection, distrust in traditional parties, perceived clientelism, and logistical barriers such as distance to polling stations and work schedules. Additionally, the study notes that social media content regarding alleged vote-buying and irregularities has eroded public trust. In response, the JCE has established a Subcommission on Electoral Abstention to develop technical and institutional solutions to address these issues.
Entities
Central Electoral Board · Centro de Asesoría y Promoción Electoral · Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos · Junta Central Electoral · República Dominicana · Román Andrés Jáquez Liranzo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Social media content regarding vote buying contributes to voter distrust and abstention. elnuevodiario.com.do
- [● 3 SOURCES] Abstention among Dominicans living abroad reached 81% during the 2024 elections. montecristinoticias.com · santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · elpregonerord.com
- [DISPUTED] Abstention in the 2024 general elections in the Dominican Republic reached 45.6%. santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · montecristinoticias.com · elpregonerord.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Central Electoral Board (JCE) established a Subcommission on Electoral Abstention to develop technical solutions. www.eljaya.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] 70.2% of Dominicans living abroad send regular remittances. montecristinoticias.com · santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · elpregonerord.com
- [DISPUTED] The 2024 national abstention rate was 41.4%, representing a 58.6% participation rate. montecristinoticias.com · santiago30caballeross.blogspot.com · elpregonerord.com