Santo Domingo.-  Polling stations across the Dominican Republic closed their doors after ten hours of voting to select new municipal authorities, setting the stage for the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in May.

The electoral precincts, operational from 7:00 a.m. local time (11:00 GMT), officially ended voting at 5:00 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT), with those already inside permitted to cast their ballots as per the Central Electoral Board’s (JCE) regulations.

The day transpired without major incidents, save for a few minor disruptions.

The observation mission of the Organization of American States (OAS), led by former Paraguayan Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga, noted the smooth conduct of the day.

However, Citizen Participation, the Dominican chapter of Transparency International, reported instances of proselytism within or around voting centers, as well as vote buying and selling, among other irregularities. Nonetheless, these issues “do not undermine the quality of the electoral process or the legitimacy of the municipal election results.”

In these elections, 158 mayors, 1,164 councilors, 235 municipal directors, and 735 members will be elected, with over 8.1 million Dominicans called to participate.

Sunday’s elections hold significant importance for both the ruling party and the opposition, setting the stage for the presidential and legislative elections on May 19, where President Luis Abinader will seek re-election.

The JCE plans to commence result announcements once 20% of the votes have been tallied or, failing that, from 8:00 p.m. local time (24:00 GMT).