What Are Civic Boards? Paraguay’s Electoral Tribunal Explains Ahead of Municipal Elections

A month before Paraguay's municipal elections, the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal is reminding voters what civic boards are and what they do.

The elections on Oct. 4 will choose members of municipal councils and mayors across the country. As part of an information campaign, the tribunal is explaining the roles of the different bodies involved in organizing the vote.

Civic boards are temporary auxiliary electoral bodies that support election preparations in districts and parishes. They consist of five full members and their alternates. Political parties, movements and electoral alliances propose the members, while electoral tribunals appoint them.

Their responsibilities include proposing polling locations and members of polling-station boards, accrediting election observers, and helping distribute and receive electoral materials. Civic boards also collect the minutes, voter rolls and ballots used by polling-station officials, then arrange for their delivery to the electoral judge under strict security measures.