No CEE money for special elections

The State Election Commission (CEE) started preparations for the special elections on May 16, in which six state lobbyists will be elected. But the president of the electoral body, Francisco Rosado Colomer, He warned they would need temporary workers and $ 8.9 million to run it.

In addition, he said they need printed ballots on both sides and use the electronic counting machines, which need new programming from the Dominion Voting System.

“You have to make a payment to Dominion. At this point I don’t know how much it is, but we also need to start evaluating the issues of machine maintenance and logic and precision for the event, ”said Rosado Colomer.

“The first step has already been taken, namely submitting (the request for funds) to the Office of Management and Budget (OGP). We are at the beginning of all that is an election event that, under the 2020 electoral law and once this special electoral law is passed, will begin a 12-month electoral cycle, ”he added.

After the controversial elections in 2020, is the EEC ready for a special election in May? He was asked.

“The Commission needs temporary additional staff to run these types of events, and that’s subject to a budget. The permanent employees of the Commission are committed employees and are ready to carry them out. But we don’t have the resources to run it, ”he replied.

He estimated the $ 8.9 million would be enough.

After requesting funds from the EEC, the OGP must submit the request to the Tax Supervision Council, whose spokesman, Edward Zayas, said they have not yet received it.

The Law Establishing the Puerto Rico Congressional Delegation (Law 167-2020) was passed by the Governor on December 30 Wanda Vazquez Garced, and wants to elect state lobbyists to the Equality Commission: two for the Senate and four for the federal chamber.

Vázquez Garced also approved the measure leaving it to Governor Pedro Pierluisi to organize a new plebiscite on the status, the definitions of which will be determined by executive order. “As of today I have not had a request for an additional consultation,” said Rosado Colomer.

Currently, the EEC is concentrating on finalizing administrative matters related to elections and dealing with electoral court rulings. Today, the suitcases of the contest for the mayor of Guánica must be revised again after the Supreme Court ordered that all votes for the candidate be counted by direct nomination Edgardo Cruz Vélez.

Meanwhile, Judge Anthony Cuevas has filed two appeals for him by the Puerto Rican Independence Party and the Victoria Ciudadana Movement to allow their representation in the EEC, in violation of the provisions of a Rosado Colomer resolution.