Costa Rica: General elections scheduled February 4 /update 1

Event

Presidential and legislative elections are scheduled to be held throughout Costa Rica on Sunday, February 4. Over 3.3 million voters are expected to turn out to vote on Sunday. A total of 13 presidential candidates will be on the ballot; a second-round runoff is expected to be held on April 1 between the two candidates that receive the most votes if no candidate receives 40 percent of the vote on Sunday.

Although the campaign period officially ended on Thursday, February 1, with election advertising and polling no longer allowed, political rallies, protests, and related traffic disruptions are nevertheless still possible in the country in advance of and immediately after Sunday's elections.

Context

Among the 13 candidates running for president in the Costa Rican elections, five are expected to be in serious competition to garner the first- or second-most votes and advance to a potential April 1 runoff: Fabricio Alvarado (National Restoration Party), Antonio Álvarez (National Liberation Party), Carlos Alvarado (Citizen Action Party), Juan Diego Castro (National Integration Party), and Rodolfo Piza (Social Christian Unity Party).

Advice

Individuals in Costa Rica are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all demonstrations and political rallies due to potential violence, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.