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3 clusters · 16 sources · 10 days · First seen · Last updated

Dominican Republic JCE scrutiny over spending and polls

Overview

The Dominican Republic’s Central Electoral Board (JCE) is facing intensifying scrutiny over its international spending and regulatory decisions. Between January 2025 and July 24, 2026, the JCE spent approximately US$529,438 on 71 official missions across 23 countries. Detailed records show that the five titular members of the board accounted for 96.9% of these costs. Of the total airfare, 97.3% (US$180,950.56) was spent on business or mixed-class tickets, while only US$4,887.63 was spent on economy class.

Specific expenditures have drawn criticism from Dominican organizations in Spain. Community leaders noted that officials received a daily per diem of US$800, a rate that exceeds the monthly minimum wage in Spain. For instance, during a cybersecurity training mission in León, Spain, in July, magistrates Hirayda Marcelle Fernández Guzmán and Samir Rafael Chami Isa each received US$12,000 in per diems for a 15-day period. Critics pointed out that this daily rate matches the total monthly scholarship amount received by Dominican students in Spain.

The JCE maintains that these missions, such as cybersecurity training, are essential for institutional capacity and managing votes from citizens abroad, despite low voter turnout in those regions during the 2024 elections.

Parallel to the spending controversy, the JCE remains embroiled in legal challenges regarding Resolution 14-2026, which prohibits publishing electoral polls before the pre-campaign period. Lawmakers argue this may exceed the board's constitutional authority, and the matter is currently under review by constitutional jurisdictions.

Entities

Junta Central Electoral · Dominican Republic · Hirayda Marcelle Fernández Guzmán · Tribunal Superior Electoral · ACD Media, S. R. L.

Timeline

  1. 8 days ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Junta Central Electoral travel spending questioned by Dominican groups in Spain

    Dominican organizations in Spain are criticizing the JCE for spending RD$32.3 million on travel and US$800 daily per diems for officials during international missions.

  2. 15 days ago

    [POLITICS] 10 sources
    Dominican Republic JCE faces scrutiny over travel costs and poll regulations

    The Dominican Republic's JCE faces scrutiny over RD$32 million in travel expenses and a controversial new regulation prohibiting early electoral polls, while the Constitutional Court settles party funding rules

  3. 18 days ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Dominican Republic JCE spent over US$529,000 on foreign missions

    The Dominican Republic's Central Electoral Board spent over US$529,000 on international travel and per diems between 2025 and 2026, with most airfare costs attributed to business class tickets.

Sources

almomento.net · bavaronews.com · diariolibre.com · elcorreord.com · elmotin.com.do · elpaisdominicano.do · elpregonerord.com · ensegundos.do · finalweapon.net · hoy.com.do · lan103fm.com · lanoticiasv.com · loultimodigital.com · paginaextra.com · pasoapaso.com.do · puntacanahits.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history