Join a 2014 Presidential Election Observer Mission to El Salvador!
Defend democracy in El Salvador with CISPES this spring!
We are currently accepting applications for the Presidential Election Observer Mission to observe the March 9 run-off election.
Join us and respond to the call from the social movements in El Salvador asking for serious and committed election monitors for the March 9 presidential election, a run-off between the FMLN and ARENA.
This delegation is best suited for those:
- with a strong background in US interventionist policy in Latin America, and particularly Central America
- with media skills (giving interviews, writing, blogging, audio/visual media skills)
- Spanish language capacity is preferred, but not required as Spanish to English interpretation will be provided at all meetings
Travel Dates are March 6 & March 12 (note change): Plan to arrive in El Salvador anytime on 3/6 and depart on 3/12 . Please contact [email protected] if you have questions or concerns about travel dates
Delegation Cost (including food, housing, transportation, observer registration, etc.): $500 in-country costs+ $50-200 (sliding scale) registration fee + plane fare.
Apply By Feb 15: Submit your completed application to [email protected], which includes the following:
- Fill out the online CISPES Delegation Application here
- Submit a fully-legible electronic scan of the photo & signature pages of your valid passport, which will not expire before September 2014 (a fully-legible photo is also acceptable, please check the photo quality before submitting it)
- Submit an additional digital passport-style photo (your head & shoulders on a white background)
- Submit a scanned copy of your COMPLETED AND PHYSICALLY SIGNED & DATED official TSE (El Salvador's elections authority) application to be an international election observer (a fully-legible photo is also acceptable, please check the photo quality before submitting it): download the TSE form itself here. To fill out the Spanish language TSE form, you can follow these English language instructions. You can review the TSE regulations for election observers here.
For more information, please contact [email protected] or call (202) 521-2510 ext. 205.
To learn more about CISPES' elections monitoring work and to read eye-witness reports from the Feb 2 election please visit the Salvadoran Elections Blog, which also includes reports from the US-El Salvador Sister Cities and SHARE Foundation observer missions.
------------------------------
First Round Election Observer Mission: January 25-February 5
Extended Application Deadline: December 15, 2013
Dates: January 25 - February 5, 2014
Cost: $800 + airfare
No Spanish language skills necessary (translation provided)
DOWNLOAD A DELEGATION FLYER HERE!
READ MORE ABOUT THE DELEGATION HERE!
Respond to the urgent call for international observers made by the organized Left in El Salvador - the FMLN and social movements - to support free and fair elections in 2014. These are the first presidential election since the historic victory of FMLN presidential candidate Mauricio Funes in 2009.
Observers who join the 2014 delegation will:
- Receive official observer credentials & observer training in-country
- Meet with electoral officials, FMLN members and social movement leaders to gain a rich understanding of the electoral and political context
- Monitor pre-elections events and observe polling places from set up to closing on Election Day, February 2
- Present conclusions on the electoral process in a press conference and official observer report
During the last presidential election, over 65 CISPES observers documented electoral fraud on the ground, mobilized hundreds of calls to US government officials against flagrant attempts by Republican Members of Congress to influence the elections, and took to the streets to celebrate the triumph of democracy. This year, the electoral campaign is highly charged, with US media and US officials already smearing the leftist FMLN party and their candidate, Salvador Sánchez Cerén.
Lookout for electoral updates on our blog for more detailed information, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter under #ESdecision2014 for live election day tweets.
For more information on the delegation, contact [email protected].
"I am a CISPES supporter because continuing to fight for social justice and a more people-centered country means continuing the dream and sacrifice of thousands of my fellow Salvadorans who died for that vision.” - Padre Carlos, New York City
