With just hours to go before the municipal primary elections scheduled for this Sunday, reports have emerged about the alleged bulk purchase of devices with hidden cameras that could be used to record votes inside the polling booth, a practice expressly prohibited by Paraguayan law.
Reports circulating in political circles point to pens equipped with micro cameras capable of recording images and storing videos via memory cards. These devices are reportedly being sold in large quantities in both Asunción and Ciudad del Este.
The concern lies in the possibility that some voters may use this equipment to film the voting screen and later display proof of their choice, a practice associated with political pressure mechanisms, vote control, or electoral coercion.
The Electoral Court recalled that Paraguayan law protects the secrecy of the ballot and expressly prohibits entering the polling station with any device that can capture, record, or transmit images related to the electoral process. The regulation covers not only cell phones but also cameras, camcorders, and any other technological device that could be used to document the voter's choice.
Electoral authorities insist that the purpose of these restrictions is to preserve voter freedom and prevent third parties from demanding proof of the option chosen inside the polling booth. The Paraguayan electoral system provides for sanctions for conduct that violates the secrecy of the ballot or affects the transparency of the process.
Complaints can be filed immediately with police officers stationed at polling centers or directly with representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office, who will be deployed throughout the entire election day. Polling station officials, party monitors, and representatives also have special responsibilities and must collaborate to prevent any situation that could compromise the legality of the vote.
The reports come amid final preparations for a primary election that will mobilize hundreds of thousands of voters across the country and will serve to define municipal candidacies and party authorities ahead of the October elections.