The Organization of American States (OAS) has given Costa Rica high marks for its national elections on February 1, calling the process transparent and well-managed. Still, the group’s observers point to ongoing problems with how campaigns get funded and how opinion polls shape the race.
In its preliminary report released Tuesday, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission noted a strong voter turnout of nearly 70 percent, up from past elections. They credited the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) for handling the vote count and results sharing with professionalism. Observers from 15 countries watched the process unfold peacefully across all provinces.
The mission led by Ope Pasquet, a former Uruguayan foreign affairs official, met with government leaders, election authorities, and candidates during their stay. They saw citizens engage actively, backed by efforts like ethical pacts among parties to fight misinformation.
Yet the report flags familiar issues that keep showing up in these reviews. On campaign money, the OAS says Costa Rica’s setup mixes public and private funds but leans too hard on private sources. This creates uneven ground for candidates. New or smaller parties often turn to personal loans or their own pockets because banks demand strict guarantees for advances.
The observers heard reports of possible ties to organized crime and illegal cash flows, including from drug trade. They worry about the system of transferring state contribution certificates, which some treat as profit chances for lenders. In this election, parties issued bonds worth over 71 billion colones, far more than the state’s direct input.
To fix this, the OAS suggests shifting to upfront public funding tied to fair rules. This would cut reliance on private donors. They also call for caps on how much one person can give and on total spending per campaign. Another idea is bringing back equal media time for all candidates, something a failed reform tried in 2023.
Polls drew fresh attention this time. The report notes a clear gap between what surveys predicted and the actual votes. Laura Fernández of the Sovereign People’s Party took 48.43 percent, enough to win outright, while Álvaro Ramos of Liberación Ciudadana got 33.42 percent. But pre-election polls often painted a tighter picture.
“While the Mission recognizes that polls are a snapshot of a specific political moment, it reiterates the need to analyze the disconnect between the data produced and the election results,” the report states. It adds that polls can sway how people vote, build false stories, and even guide where money goes in campaigns.
In Costa Rica, these surveys affect fundraising too, the OAS says. Strong poll numbers help attract donors, while weak ones dry up support. Beyond money and polls, the report touches on other spots for improvement. Logistical hurdles at polling sites include parties struggling to staff vote-receiving boards, leading the TSE to fill gaps with paid helpers. The mission advises rethinking how these boards form to keep parties more involved.
Political attacks on women candidates remain a concern, even with a 2022 law against it. Few cases get reported due to lack of awareness or trust in the system. The OAS recommends spreading word about the law, setting clear ways to file complaints, and starting an observatory to track incidents.
On tech, the vote transmission worked securely, but the report urges better checks to confirm software versions match what’s tested. They also suggest combining result scans with data entry for faster public access.
The mission wraps up by praising Costa Rica’s democratic strength but stresses acting on these points before the next cycle. With Fernández set to take office, these ideas could shape talks in the assembly. Overall, the OAS views the election as a success that upholds Costa Rica’s reputation for fair votes. But addressing these gaps would make future races even stronger for all involved.
