Lawyer asks Congress to investigate electoral board over poll regulation

Lawyer Julio Cury is urging the Dominican Congress to investigate the members of the Central Electoral Board (JCE). He asserts that the board's recent regulation governing electoral polls might represent an overreach of its constitutional powers, potentially leading to a political trial.

The regulation in question, Resolution 14-2026, prohibits the publication or dissemination of electoral polls before the pre-campaign period begins. Cury points out that this directly conflicts with Article 216 of Law 20-23, which only restricts poll publication in the eight days leading up to an election, while allowing earlier dissemination.

Cury argues that the JCE has used a regulation to criminalize an activity permitted by law, violating the principle of legality. He cites the Constitutional Court's stance that regulatory powers cannot substitute legislative authority. Cury has requested Congress form a special commission to examine who approved the provision and why, to determine if the action constitutes a serious offense warranting impeachment.

This move follows calls from various national organizations, including the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation (Finjus), for the JCE to review the norm. These groups argue that the electoral body must operate within the boundaries set by the Constitution, emphasizing that its regulatory powers have limits.