El Salvador Election Observation Report, January 18 elections
Municipal and Legislative Elections, January 18, 2009
by CISPES- Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
Introduction
Members of�the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) tookpart in the Misi�n de Observaci�n Internacional (MOI) to monitor thelegislative and municipal elections in El Salvador on January 18th,2009. The MOI was accredited by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) andobserved the entire election day process, from the installation of the votingtables to the final vote count. CISPES members observed in the municipality ofSan Salvador, San Salvador, and in the municipality of El Para�so,Chalatenango. Observers monitored the electoral campaign and studied electorallaws and regulations in the weeks and months leading up to election day. Duringthe week before the vote, CISPES members met with civil society organizations,other international observer missions, and government agencies such as theHuman Rights Procurator�s Office (PDDH).
This report provides the results of CISPES' directobservation of the electoral process on the day of the vote and an analysis ofthe multiple factors that we believe impeded the country from achieving a fullyfree and transparent democratic process. This report is divided into sections:
1)�����The Role of Government Institutions
2)�����The Role of the Media
3)�����Dirty Campaign & Electoral Violence
4)�����Election Day Observation
5)�����Recommendations