Costa Ricans approach the presidential elections with such enthusiasm that they celebrate Election Day as if it were a big party or national holiday. People wearing party colors, honking cars and bands playing Latin music all contribute to the festive atmosphere. The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones lets Costa Ricans know where they have to vote. The day of the election the country’s 6,617 polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are currently 2,822,491 voters registered for the upcoming election. In Costa Rica prisoners also have the right to vote so there are 37 polling places inside of the country’s 21 correctional centers.
The list of terms below should help readers understand the election process in Costa Rica.
La bancada – a group of deputies in an assembly that back an initiative, a party or a coalition
La campaña – campaign
El candidato/la candidata – candidate
El ciudadano – citizen
El compañero/ La compañera de fórmula – running mate
El conteo – the counting of votes
El derecho de sufragio – the right to vote
El diputado/la diputada – congressman/woman or representative
Elección arreglada –a fixed election
Una elección cerrada – a close political race
El electorado –electorate or voters
Empadronado – registered to vote
Empardronarse – to register to vote
Fraude electoral – voter fraud
Los escaños – seats in a congress or legislature
Juramentarse – to get sworn in
Un margen estrecho – a narrow margin (vote)
Las mesas – polling places in Costa Rica
Los observadores – people who observe elections to try and make sure nobody commits voter fraud or rigs an election
El padrón – the list of registered voters at a polling place
La ley seca – On past election days the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages. The law was changed for this election so people can buy booze if they so desire. Since the Super Bowl falls on election day we won’t have a “dry” Super Bowl as in past election years.
La papeleta – paper ballot
Los partidarios – supporters
El partido político – political party
Período presidencial – presidential term (time in office)
Politiquear – to do politics using dishonest tactics
Politiquero/a – a person who looks out for his own interests inside the government
El político – politician
La presidenta – woman president
El presi – pres ….slang for president
El presidente – president
El presidente electo- the elected president
El presidente saliente – outgoing president
Postularse/lanzarse – to run for an office
Reconocer la derrota – concede defeat
El resultado – the result of an election
La segunda ronda – a run-off election when none of the candidates received enough votes in the first election to be elected. In Costa Rica this happens if none of the candidates get at least 40% of the vote.
Ser electo – be be elected
El traspaso de poder – transferring of power and duties to a new president
El Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones – the government entity in charge of elections
Las urnas – polls (mesas in Costa Rica)
El vicepresidente – vicepresident
Una victoria abrumadora/aplastante – an overwhelming victory
La votación – vote (noun)
El votante – voter
Votar – to vote
Tiquismos of the week:
Botar la basura – means to throw out the garbage. Sometimes when people ask who a person intends to vote for he or she answers in jest, “Solamente voy a botar la basura.” Botar (to throw out) sounds exactly like votar (to vote).
Hijueputado – a vulgar way to say diputado(congressman). Jokingly it means..Son of a b…. diputado.
