Paraguayan Senate to revisit voting machine audit proposal

The Paraguayan Senate is set to revisit a proposal to audit voting machines ahead of the October 2026 municipal elections. Senator Éver Villalba (PLRA) has requested that the Superior Court of Electoral Justice (TSJE) provide two machines for a technical review by the Electoral Affairs Commission.

Villalba’s push follows concerns regarding errors during recent internal party elections, where machines reportedly issued voting certificates showing zero votes. While the TSJE attributed these incidents to human error rather than mechanical failure, Villalba argued that the occurrence reveals a lack of necessary security measures. He also raised questions regarding a software “patch” reportedly applied to the system after the February audit, demanding transparency on who authorized and controlled such modifications.

A previous attempt to debate the resolution failed due to a lack of quorum after ruling party senators left the chamber. However, the Senate President has committed to including the project on the upcoming agenda.