Saturday, December 5th, 2009

By J.R. Claeys

Today we visited with party leaders and visited the presidential palace and legislature in La Paz. Since it is Saturday many of our prior meetings from the week we were detained in Santa Cruz could not be rescheduled. But with the election tomorrow, party leaders are working diligently to win seats in the National Congress. The polling may show Evo Morales winning an easy victory, but all the competing parties are looking for wins to hold power in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Currently, Morales' socialist party does not control the Senate.

The Bolivian Legislative Building in La Paz. The Bolivian Legislative Building in La Paz.

The political system in Bolivia has something of a fresh start under a new constitution that allows for more than a single term for presidents. If Morales' one term under the previous constitution is not counted, he could be the first three term president, serving until 2018. Many Central and South American countries distrust the permanent president model that Chavez and Castro have used to stay in power for a lifetime. In Bolivia, the same fears exist, but Morales promised not to run in 2014. Most Bolivians I've spoke to do not believe Morales will live up to this promise.

Morales will have an unprecedented amount of time leading Bolivia if elected to this second term. The country has averaged a new government every 10 months, with one president serving for just six hours.

La Paz is the world's highest-altitude capital city at about 12,000 ft. above sea level. It is situated among the Andes mountain chain. La Paz is the world's highest-altitude capital city at about 12,000 ft. above sea level. It is situated among the Andes mountain chain.

The area where we are working is densely populated, however public transportation is closed on election day and we are told cars are not allowed in the streets. Everyone is expected to walk to the polls. All businesses will be closed as well, except for essential services and hotels.

We will be observing voters outside the polling place as well as inside to attempt to detect instances of voter intimidation. Morales has been accused of numerous human rights violations and has a history of punishing political opposition according to a report by the Organization of American States (OAS). Their report accuses Morales of implementing mob tactics and holds him directly responsible for the deaths of 74 opposition members.

During the observation effort, we will also be looking at how long lines get and if it has an impact on turnout. Often, we see the elderly and the handicapped leave long lines due to the wait and inability to stand for long periods in the heat or cold.

We will be seeking information from anyone turned away from the polls. The requirement in the past week of a birth certificate could make voting difficult in a country where the process for obtaining a birth certificate is not easy. Individuals were to have already proved their eligibility and citizenship at the time of registration.

The weather forecast calls for rain, but temperatures are in the lower 60s in La Paz.

» Photo Gallery: Elections Observation Mission