Paraguay’s Electoral Justice began distributing equipment on September 27 for the municipal elections on October 4, when polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first shipment is headed to Alto Paraguay, Itacuá in the department of Concepción, and Puerto Pinasco in Presidente Hayes; part of the route will be traveled by river.
Voting machines and electoral kits are being escorted by police to the port of Concepción, then transported by boat before reaching the polling places. Electoral Justice Minister Jorge Bogarín González accompanied the start of the operation.
The schedule calls for materials to be sent to the other departments and districts on September 30, to the Central Department on October 2, and to polling places in Asunción on October 3. In total, 14,711 voting machines and 14,711 electoral kits will be distributed, along with one backup kit for each polling place. The operation will also include 2,094 backup voting machines.
Hugo Cazal, general coordinator of Electoral Justice’s regional offices, said each of the 1,187 polling places will have a machine for training and practice. Older people who have difficulty using the equipment will be able to familiarize themselves with it and use accessibility materials at support desks; age alone does not qualify a voter for assisted voting.
Assisted voting is available to people with visual impairments or disabilities affecting both upper limbs. Voters choose who will accompany them, but that person may not suggest or influence their vote. “Assisted voting must not become coerced voting,” Cazal said.
The sale of alcoholic beverages will be prohibited from 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, under the Electoral Code. On election day, gatherings capable of putting pressure on voters will also be prohibited within 200 meters of polling places. Public performances may not take place until two hours after voting ends.
To vote, people need only present a physical identity card, whether current or expired. Voters can check their polling place, table and position in the electoral register using the electoral register lookup.