Voting simulator lets Paraguayans practice for municipal elections

Paraguayan voters can now rehearse the full voting process online before going to the polls for the municipal elections on Oct. 4.

The interactive simulator from the Superior Court of Electoral Justice guides users through each stage of the electronic voting system. Voters can practice selecting candidates, printing their choices and checking that the printed ballot matches the chip inside it.

The process begins when the voter inserts the single ballot into the machine. The voter then chooses a mayoral candidate, selects a list for the Municipal Council and picks a preferred council candidate. The simulator also includes an option to modify a selection before the ballot is printed.

After printing, voters verify the ballot by bringing it close to the machine’s reader. They then fold it to protect the secrecy of the vote, hand it to the polling-station president for signing, ink a finger and receive their identity card. Finally, they place the signed ballot in the transparent plastic ballot box.

The Oct. 4 elections will take place across 263 municipalities. Voters will choose mayors and members of municipal councils, who will serve five-year terms. The number of council members varies by municipality: Asunción elects 24, departmental capitals and first- and second-category municipalities elect 12, and third- and fourth-category municipalities elect nine.