What are electoral witnesses in Colombia? What function do they have and how are they chosen?

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(CNN Spanish) --

On Sunday, May 29, the first-round presidential elections will be held in Colombia.

That day, Colombians will be able to vote for president and vice president from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (local time).

An important part of the electoral process is represented by electoral witnesses.

Do you know what they are and how they are chosen?

We tell you.

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What are electoral witnesses?

The National Registry points out that they are the people who are in charge of observing the elections.

"By legal mandate, they represent the parties, movements and significant groups of citizens who registered candidates and who during the elections will exercise a transitory public function," says the agency.

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What function do they have?

Witnesses monitor the entire electoral process.

In other words, they are not only there to observe voting day, but also to monitor the counts.

"According to Law 1475 of 2011, the electoral witnesses will monitor the voting process and the scrutiny, they will be able to formulate claims and request the intervention of the authorities", indicates the Registry.

Who chooses them?

The parties, movements, significant groups of citizens and electoral observation organizations recognized by the National Electoral Council (CNE) have the right to monitor voting and counting, so they can present to the CNE the witnesses for each polling station and also for Each scrutinizing body mentions the Registry based on Article 45 of Law 1475 of 2011.

Meanwhile, Article 121 of the Colombian Electoral Code, adds the agency, says that a witness can be appointed per voting table.

"Those parties, movements or significant groups of citizens that do not have the number of sufficient witnesses can designate coordinators who will have the authorization to monitor several tables, within the same voting station," explains the Registrar's Office.

How are they chosen?

The CNE can appoint officials of the agency that are related to the elections to authorize the proposals of witnesses made by the parties, movements or groups of citizens, mentions the Registrar's Office.

According to the electoral calendar, the process to apply, accredit and publicize electoral witnesses will take place on Friday, May 27, two days before the election.

Colombian Elections