Deputy Martín Melazzi – Colorado Party – Soriano. On December 30, 2024, the Electoral Court announced, through Circulars No. 12,094 and 12,095, the Regulations for Departmental Elections and the Regulations for Municipal Elections respectively, to be held jointly on May 11, 2025. .
Departmental Elections are those where citizens elect Mayor and departmental councilors, basically, these go on the same voting sheet identified with a certain number. Each candidate for Mayor can appear on different voting sheets, within the same Motto (Party), each of them with different lists of councilor candidates. In this election, all people registered in the National Civic Registry within the department, who are 18 years old or older before May 11, will be able to vote. Conceptually, the authorities of the second level of government are elected.
From the Municipal Elections, the Mayors and Councilors for the Municipalities (commonly called Mayors’ Offices) identified for this instance are elected. In this election, those who are 18 years old on the day of the election, have valid Civic Credentials and their electoral series are within the geographical area of the Municipality have the right to vote. Voting is done on a separate sheet of the Departmental Election (candidates for Mayor and councillors), even said voting sheets are not only different in size, but are also identified with numbers and letters, numbers that do not necessarily have to coincide with those used. by the lists of the other simultaneous election. Here the authorities for the third level of government are voted on.
Legally we are facing two different elections, authorities are elected for two different levels of government, simply, both elections are held on the same day.
There is no current legislation that prohibits “cross voting”, that is, citizens can vote for a candidate for Mayor from one party and a candidate for Mayor from another, but the Electoral Court has established in the regulations of each municipal election that This electoral option is considered an annulled vote. It is logical that it is counted as an annulled vote when sheets are found, within the same envelope, of different slogans (parties) for the same positions. Here it is understood that there is a deliberate action to annul the vote, in addition, this does have legal basis.
Months ago, our group raised with the members of Crece, a sector led by Senator-elect Robert Silva, the need for the Colorado Party to defend the freedom of the voter, who would be allowed to vote for the neighbor he or she considers most appropriate for the Municipality. , as well as whoever is considered the best option for the Mayor’s Office, even if they are from different parties. On December 30, the same day that the Electoral Court reported the circulars, the Colorado Party decided to appeal the regulations of both elections, reaffirming its commitment to the defense of democracy and electoral freedom.
We understand that depriving citizens of voting for different slogans in two different elections, although simultaneous, responds to petty interests that are not those of the people. Citizens deserve to choose with the greatest freedom possible.
In these moments when two libraries and diverse interests confront each other, our course is clear and firm, because in the words of Jorge Batlle “…If one day you are at a crossroads, the answer is always where there is more freedom…”.
