The Special Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the Strengthening of Democratic Institutions in Guatemala reports that, in the framework of its mandate to monitor the second-degree electoral processes scheduled for 2026, it followed up on the development of the election held on Monday, January 5, by the Guatemalan Bar and Notaries Association (CANG). At this stage, the two slates that will participate in the second round were selected to determine the primary and alternate representatives to the Nominating Committee responsible for preparing the list of candidates for the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).
This election is of particular institutional importance given the role that these committees play in the integration and legitimacy of key bodies for the functioning of the democratic system. The Mission reiterates that its presence was intended to contribute, from a technical perspective to the confidence, transparency, and integrity of the process.
The Mission took note of the progress of the process at the polling stations, particularly at Parque de la Industria and Forum Majadas. The Mission values the logistical and administrative efforts and voter flow management at both locations and identifies opportunities for improvement related to the management of prior procedures and verification of eligibility requirements. The Mission received reports of difficulties in casting votes due to administrative issues, including cases in which the voter registry did not reflect recent payments to regain active membership status. Likewise, there was a significant presence of professionals paying their membership dues in order to enable their eligibility to participate.
The Mission took note of public information regarding the existence of an agreement among the representatives of the registered slates to refrain from campaigning in the vicinity of polling stations, with the objective of strengthening the integrity and fairness of the election. Notwithstanding this commitment, during the monitoring of the election day, individuals identified as affiliated with certain slates were observed in areas near polling stations, and there were reports of specific electoral campaigning activities in the vicinity of at least one polling station. The Mission emphasizes that compliance with non-propaganda agreements requires clear monitoring mechanisms, perimeter delimitation, timely action, and, where appropriate, defined corrective measures.
The Mission observed the distribution of food and beverages outside a polling station, as well as a small group calling on people to vote in the vicinity of another station.
Furthermore, there were reports of live broadcasts on social media by supporters and members of the electoral slates inviting people to participate. The Mission recalls that, in line with international best practices, any conduct that could be interpreted as undue incentive or a disproportionate advantage in the immediate vicinity of polling stations must be prevented, documented, and addressed by the competent authorities in order to safeguard the principles of fairness and freedom of suffrage.
The Mission recognizes the efforts of the CANG electoral authorities, operational staff, and actors promoting observation and social auditing exercises, as these contribute to raising the standards of integrity and trust.
It also underscores the importance of oversight by sectors of civil society, academia, women's organizations, Indigenous peoples, journalists, and other actors, in accordance with the law, as a complementary mechanism to strengthen citizen confidence and the integrity of electoral processes.
In light of the above observations, the Mission makes the following preliminary recommendations, which may be expanded upon in a subsequent technical report:
• Strengthen the traceability and updating of the voter registry with regard to payments and active membership status, with prior verification mechanisms and clear closing/updating times to minimize contingencies on election day.
• Optimize payment and service points (cashiers/windows), signage, guidance, and queue management, especially when voter registration depends on same-day procedures.
• Define and enforce a campaign-free perimeter around polling stations, with operating rules known to all staff, intervention procedures, and proportional corrective measures for non-compliance.
• Establish an accessible and visible complaint and incident mechanism, with a public record (where possible) of the nature of incidents and their resolution, while ensuring the protection of personal data.
Finally, the Mission reiterates its disposal to provide technical accompaniment to strengthen the democratic institutions and quality of the union electoral processes, which, due to their impact, are linked to the functioning of strategic State bodies.
Reference: E-003/26
