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2.636.348 Costa Ricans Will Be Eligible To Cast
Their Vote on The TLC
The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) -
elections tribunal - announced that Costa Ricans
have until May 31 to ensure that their name is
on the voting list and change the voting place
for the referendum vote on the Tratado de Libre
Comercio (TLC) - free trade agreement with the
United States, Central America and the Dominican
Republic.
The popular vote date has been set tentatively
for Sunday 23 September. The TSE said last week
that it would make a final decision on the date
next month.
For the vote there will be 2.636.348 eligible
voters, including 32.578 new voters who will
turn 18 prior to September 23.
According to TSE figures, the largest number of
new voters are in the province of Limón,
followed by Heredia and Puntarenas.
In total there are 961.672 eligible voters in
the province of San José, followed by Alajuela
with 483.155 eligible votres and Cartago in
third place with 305.762 eligible voters.
The total number of eligible male voters is
1.318.822 and 1.317.496 females.
According to Luis Antonio Sobrado, president of
the TSE, the tribunal meeting in the first week
of June will officially set the date calling the
popular vote.
The results of the popular vote is binding on
the government as long as between 30% and 40% of
the eligible voters cast their vote. The exact
majority required will be announced following
the June meeting.
If the required number of eligible voters is not
obtained, the trade agreement will then go back
to the Legislative Assembly where a majority
vote of the legislators will be required to pass
the deal, without regard to the opinion
expressed by the popular vote.
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