DOMINICAN ELECTIONS

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• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000500010028-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 4, 2007
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: March 29, 1966
• Content Type: IM

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amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
In or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
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OCI No. 1163/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
29 March 1966
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
Dominican Elections
Introduction
On 1 June 1966, for the second time in their
history, the people of the Dominican Republic are
scheduled to go to the polls in free, democratic
elections to elect a president, vice president,
members of the legislature, and municipal officials.
The elections of 20 December 1962 which saw the
Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) headed by Juan
Bosch win an overwhelming majority of the elective
offices attracted over one million voters.
The 1 June elections will follow the system
used in 1962. It can be expected to provide reason-
ably honest elections; above all, it has the great
advantage of simplicity, which is necessary in a
politically unsophisticated country with a high rate
of illiteracy.
Date of Election: 1 June 1966.
Population: Estimated 3.3 - 3.5 million.
Eligible Voters: Potential voting population
estimated at 1.6 - 1.7 million.
Requirements for Voting: Citizenship is held
by all Dominicans over 18 years of age and by those
who are or have been married, regardless of age. In
theory, all citizens are required to vote; however,
those who have lost their political rights and mem-
bers of the armed forces and police are forbidden to
vote. Also excused from the mandatory vote are persons
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over 70, those who are more than 100 kilometers from
the polling place on election day, and those who are
ill or who for certifiable reasons cannot go to the
polls. Fines ranging from $10 to $200 are established
for those who fail to vote without sufficient reason.
Offices to Be Filled: Offices of president and
vice president; 27 senatorial seats (one for each of
the 26 provinces and one for the National District);
74 members of the Chamber of Deputies (9 for the Na-
tional District; 6 for Santiago; 5 each for La Vega
and San Cristobal; 3 each for Duarte, Puerto Plata,
and San Juan de la Maguana; and 2 each for the re-
maining 20 provinces); 77 mayors and 417 municipal
councilmen. Also to be elected are substitutes for
all positions except for the offices of president and
vice president. (See Attachment #1 for results of
December 1962 elections. Attachment #2 shows break-
down of total votes cast for president and members of
congress by province.)
Terms of Office: The president, vice president,
and senators are elected by a simple plurality; mem-
bers of the Chamber of Deputies are elected on the
basis of population, except that no province shall
seat fewer than two deputies. The term of office for
president, vice president, and members of the na-
tional congress is four years; mayors and municipal
councilmen are elected for two years.
Qualifications to Hold Office: To be president
of the republic, a candidate must be at least 30 years
of age, a Dominican by birth or origin, and have full
enjoyment of his civil and political rights. A can-
didate for the office of member or alternate member
of the legislative chambers must be a Dominican, at
least 28 years of age, a native of the district that
is to elect him or a resident of that district for at
least five years.
Of particular note is the fact that, under the
provisions of the Institutional Act, no member of the
Provisional Government may be a candidate for any
elective office.
Competing Parties: Eight non-Communist parties
have been recognized by the Central Electoral Board
as eligible to participate. They are: the Dominican
Revolutionary Party (PRD); Reformist Party (PR); Na-
tional Civic Union (UCN); Revolutionary Social Christian
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Party (PRSC); Nationalist Democratic Revolutionary
Party (PNRD); Dominican Revolutionary Vanguard (VRD);
Liberal Evolutionist Party (PLE); and the Social
Democratic Alliance (ASD).
Four others--one of which is the pro-Communist
14th of June Revolutionary Movement (MR-1J4)--re-
quested recognition. The Institutional Act spe-
cifically states that only those parties that are
organized for peaceful purposes compatible with the
principles of a representative democracy may par-
ticipate in elections. However, Provisional Presi-
dent Garcia Godoy has announced that regardless of
their ideological line, the parties that meet the
requirements set by law will be able to take part in
the elections. According to Dominican electoral
legislation, a party must show registration equal to
3 percent of the electorate of the 20 December 1962
elections to qualify as a legal political party.
Also, to maintain recognition, a party must poll at
least 3 percent of the popular vote in a general elec-
tion or elect a representative to Congress to remain
in existence.
Selection of Slates: On 3 March Provisional
President Garcia Godoy set elections for 1 June 1966.
He also directed the Central Electoral Board (CEB)
to issue no later than two months before the date
determined by the president a formal proclamation
announcing the elections. This proclamation, pub-
lished on 18 March, enumerates the elective positions
to be filled in the National District and in each
province and municipality and officially opens the
door to the nomination of slates of candidates by
eligible political parties. After the parties have
chosen their candidates--a total of 105 nominating
conventions will be held--the CEB and its dependent
boards will pass on the party nominees at a meeting
in which each party may challenge the candidates of
another. Parties must submit their slates by 20
April to be considered by the CEB, The CEB has five
days in which to approve or reject the slates sub-
mitted. Once the various slates are approved, the
CEB will order the printing of ballots.
Preparation of Ballots: Approximately 1.5
million "short" ballots must be prepared for each
party which has a candidate for the national elec-
tions. In addition, similarly large quantities of
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the "long" ballot must be prepared for all candidates
other than those for presidential and vice presidential
office. The task is further complicated by the fact
that the ballots for each municipality carry different
names for the lower offides.
The use of colored ballots to distinguish the
various parties is favored as a means of aiding il-
literate voters to select the ballot of the party for
which they wish to vote. Five colors have been
selected for use: yellow, pink, green, blue, and
white. To distinguish between more than five par-
ties several color combinations will be used as a
border on a white ballot. The ballots will also
carry the emblems of the parties. Once the ballots
are printed, they are to be distributed to the munic-
ipal boards, which then deliver them to the presi-
dent and secretary of each mesa electoral--polling
place--along with ballot envelopes, and other ma-
terials to be used. The most important item in-
cluded in this package is the special seal which
each poll will have for stamping its ballots, voting
envelopes, tally sheets, etc.
Electoral Machinery: The Dominican electoral
law organizes the judicial and administrative elec-
toral machinery as permanent organs composed of a
Central Electoral Board which supervises the de-
partmental, provincial, municipal, and National Dis-
trict electoral boards. The three members of the
CEB are appointed by the national assembly and,
ideally, have no political affiliation. The embassy
has reported no derogatory information on the present
members and none is believed to have strong ties to
any party. The CEB appoints members of the lower
boards while the municipal boards appoint the offi-
cials of the polls.
Each polling place has a staff of 12 (a presi-
dent, a first and second assistant, a secretary, two
registrars, and substitutes for each of these). The
president and his two assistants decide questions of
procedure, challenges, etc. The secretary records
their acts, while the registrars enter the names of
the voters in the registry books. All poll personnel
are paid $10 on election day.
In the 1962 election, there were approximately
3,500 polling places. This year there may be more
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because of an increase in population. In addition
to the personnel of the various electoral boards7-
national, provincial, and municipal--more than 42,000
persons will be involved in the administration of
the electoral process.
The CEB also names inspectors who are assigned
to the electoral boards throughout the country.
These inspectors observe pre-election preparations
and voting procedure followed on election day.
The Balloting: Polls open at 6 AM and close at
6 PM,iii[ss there are voters waiting in line. The
polls are assigned on a basis of population; no one
poll should be required to accommodate more than 500
voters. Election day is a holiday: all places of
entertainment are closed and political demonstrations
of any kind are prohibited. Radio and newspaper media
are prohibited from engaging in any propagandizing
during this period.
It was planned to use the personal identity card
for admission to the polling places in June. How-
ever, the office that controlled the issuance of these
cards was in the hands of the "constitutionalists"
for a long period of time and the former director of
the office was a "constitutionalist." To prevent the
use of false identity cards that may have been issued
during this time, it was decided to issue a special
electoral card. These cards are now being distributed
free throughout the country to eligible voters. To
obtain one a person must show his personal identity
card as proof that he is eligible to vote.
The voter presents his identity card and electoral
card to the president of the poll who, after examining
them and finding them to be correct and that the voter's
name has not been previously entered in the registry
book, cuts a corner from the electoral card. The voter
then takes a ballot envelope from a box; his name is
registered in the registry book along with the number
and series of his personal identity card. The presi-
dent of the poll passes to the voter two ballots for
each party entered in the election--one "short" ballot
for president and vice president and one "long" ballot
for the congressional and municipal candidates. The
voter goes to the voting booth or room (which is pri-
vate),selects a short and long ballot bearing the
names of the candidates of his choice, and inserts these
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ballots into an envelope which he seals and deposits
in the ballot box after leaving the voting booth.
The unused ballots are left by the voter in a re-
ceptacle in the voting booth. The personal identity
card is dated and stamped, indicating the bearer has
voted. Also, the last finger of the voter's left
hand is dipped in indelible ink to help prevent
multiple voting.
The law provides that a voter unable to cast
his ballot without help may be accompanied into the
voting booth by a "person of confidence."
Under this system a very limited form of ticket
splitting is allowed. A voter may cast one ballot
for the presidential - vice presidential team and
another for all other offices--senator, deputies,
and municipal officials.
Voiding of Ballots: Voters may be challenged
by any-F345rr-i5rruErwr-of a representative of the
parties competing in the elections. A challenged
voter is allowed to cast his vote but the envelope
containing his ballots is placed in another, dis-
tinctively colored envelope. The voter and the
challenger are required the following day to appear
before the Municipal Electoral Board which rules on
the validity of the objection. If a ballot envelope
contains two or more ballots of the same party only
one is allowed to be counted; if it contains ballots
for several parties or candidates, all are voided.
Ballots which have been erased or defaced in any way
will be discounted, as will ballots to which names
or words have been added. Ballot boxes that contain
more or less ballots than the number of voters regis-
tered in the registry book may be declared void and
the election annulled if the outcome of the election
depends on the counting of these ballots.
In the 1962 elections,in which over 1.1 million
votes were cast, an estimated 50,000 ballots were de-
clared void or were successfully challenged.
The Winners: The ballots are counted at the poll
at the close of voting. A separate tally sheet is
made for the presidential - vice presidential tickets
and for the "long" ballots; the tally sheets, the bal-
lots, and all pertinent documents are sealed in pack-
ages, placed in one large package under the seal of
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the poll and delivered to the municipal board by the
president of the poll and his two assistants. Party
delegates may accompany the commission if they wish.
The seal is broken in public at the municipal board.
After counting and tabulation of the vote by the
municipal board, tally sheets and other pertinent
documents are mailed under sealed cover to the pro-
vincial board. The ballots themselves, however, are
retained by the municipal boards. Returns must be
delivered to the CEB within three days following
balloting and counting. Municipal electoral boards
will proclaim the winners of the municipal contests;
the provincial boards the provincial contests, etc.,
with boards at various levels proclaiming the victors
in the races which fall within their respective juris-
dictions. The final step will be the proclamation of
the president and vice president by the CEB.
An indication of the outcome of the voting should
be gained within 12 to 24 hours after the polls close.
The outcome of the 20 December 1962 elections was ap-
parent within two days, though the official announce-
ment followed much later. Officially the CEB has up
to 30 days to proclaim the presidential and vice
presidential winners.
According to the Institutional Act, the Pro-
visional Government shall transfer power to the
elected government 30 days after elections are held.
Armed Forces and Police; With regard to the
maintenance of public order, the electoral law states
that, except for those police indispensable to main-
tain public order, the armed forces will remain in
their barracks during the entire election day. The
CEB shall assume command of the public forces in
places where voting is held. The president of the
poll can require the assistance of the public forces
when it might be necessary to maintain order. Only
the police in the service of the electoral authorities
can enter armed into the polling places when they
might be required. Otherwise, no member of the pub-
lic forces can come nearer than 50 meters to the poll.
However, the wording of the law suggests that the
electoral authorities could call on the military if
it proved necessary. Although the 27,000-odd members
of the military and police are denied the vote, it
is estimated that they can "deliver" anywhere from
100,000 to 300,000 votes by relatives, dependents, etc.
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The Role of the Organization of American States:
The Institutional Act provides Tifit the Provigional
Government request the cooperation of the OAS in
election preparations and the electoral process. It
also states that the Inter-American Commission on
Human Rights will be present in the Dominican Repub-
lic until an elected government takes office.
Since 10 January 1966, three OAS-appointed elec-
toral experts have been serving the CEB in an advisory
capacity. They are responsible for providing technical
assistance and guidance to ensure the elections will
be carried out in an efficient, orderly, and impartial
manner. It has been reported that 50 foreign ob-
servers and a number of electoral technicians from
the OAS will be present in the Dominican Republic on
election day in an effort to instill confidence in
the electoral process.
The IAPF: It is not presently anticipated that
the IAPF will become involved in any phase of the elec-
toral procedures. The Force is in the Dominican Re-
public to support the Provisional Government and the
measures taken by that government to assure an orderly,
peaceful election campaign with adequate guarantees
for all who participate. Any action by the IAPF or
its members which might influence, or appear to in-
fluence, the outcome of the election would be incon-
sistent with the IAPF's mandate.
Possibilities of Fraud: The possibilities of
widespread fraud are fairly limited although the large
number of personnel involved in the administration of
the election is conducive to such an eventuality. The
triple check imposed on the voter by requiring pre-
sentation of a personal identity card, the electoral
card, and the use of indelible ink should hold mul-
tiple voting to a minimum. In the final analysis,
the presence of representatives from competing par-
ties, the electoral inspectors assigned by the CEB,
and the visits of OAS observers to the polls and to
the municipal offices where ballots are counted seem
to constitute the most reliable means of ensuring a
free and honest election.
ATTACHMENTS
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ATTACHMENT #1
Results of the December 1962 Elections
Issued by the Central Electoral Board
Nat'l
Ticket
Percent of
Nat'l Vote
Local
Tickets
Percent of
Local Vote
Dominican Revolution-
ary Party (PRD)
619,491
58.72
592,088
56.50
National Civic Union
317,327
30.08
315,371
30.09
(UCN)
Revolutionary Social
54,638
5.18
56,794
5.42
Christian Party (PRSC)
Nationalist Democratic
35,764
3.39
36,972
3.53
Revolutionary Party
(PNRD)
Social Democratic
17,898
1.70
18,726
1.79
Alliance (ASD)
Dominican Revolutionary
6,886
.65
18,586
1.77
Vanguard (VRD)
Nationalist Party (PN)
1,667
.16
4,161
.39
Authentic Dominican
1,273
.12
5,306
.51
Revolutionary Party
(PRDA)*
TOTAL 1,054,944
100.00
1,048,044
100.00
*The PRDA did not have a presidential candidate, its
attempt to nominate ex-President Joaquin Balaguer having
failed.
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ATTACHMENT #1 (continued)
Breakdown of offices won by contending parties:
Presi-
dent
Vice
Presi-
dent
Senators
Deputies
Mayors
Municipal
Councilmen
PRD
1
1
22
49
62
266
UCN
4
20
11
119
PRSC
-
-
1
-
10
PNRD
-
1
4
4
19
ASD
-
-
-
-
3
TOTAL
1
1
27
74
77
417
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ATTACHMENT # 2
TOTAL VOTE 1962
Province
Presidential
Congressional
National District
197,256
188,036
Bahoruco
12,685
12,754
Barahona
27,520
27,952
Independencia
9,187
9,152
Pedernales
3,019
3,029
Duarte
57,546
57,546
Espaillat
44,183
43,996
La Vega
84,938
85,550
Ma Trinidad Sanchez
29,661
29,575
Salcedo
25,113
25,329
Samana
13,934
13,934
Sanchez Ramirez
29,759
29,721
Azua
21,634
21,585
Peravia
32,295
33,224
San Cristobal
82,602
83,343
Elias Pina
10,620
10,612
(San Rafael)
San Juan
33,705
34,779
El Seibo
39,310
39,217
La Altagracia
21,813
20,813
La Romana
16,474
16,384
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ATTACHMENT # 2 (Cont'd)
Province Presidential
Congressional
San Pedro de Macoris
30,977
30,387
Santiago
106,220
106,132
Dajabon
12,112
12,974
Montecristi
21,509
21,557
Puerto Plata
53,401
53,338
Santiago Rodriguez
13,367
13,362
Valverde
23,875
23,723
TOTAL
1,054,944
1,048,004
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