This Sunday, June 25, general elections will be held in Guatemala, and 90,708 Guatemalans in the U.S. are eligible to vote, who can now cast their ballots in 15 cities across the United States.
The Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE) of Guatemala stated on its Twitter account that citizens have already gone to vote in the centers of Miami, Queens, Raleigh, Trenton, Charlotte and Houston, among others.
Many of them will be able to vote for the first time from the cities where they live.
While more than 4,000 general offices will be voted for in the Central American country in these general elections, Guatemalans abroad will only be able to choose who will be the next president and vice president of their nation.
Polls in the United States will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time in each city. Voters can find more information on where and how to cast their ballot on the website https://migrante.tse.org.gt or by calling +(502) 2378-3900.
Who can vote?
It should be noted that only Guatemalans over 18 years of age and registered voters will be able to vote, and that they have requested their DPI (Personal Identification Document) at the consulates in the cities of Los Angeles, Silver Spring, New York, and Houston.
They must also have an updated residence or be registered through the website https://migrante.tse.org.gt or the “Vote for Guate” application.
Electoral authorities in Guatemala have recommended that those who go to vote this Sunday, June 25, respect the plurality of ideas, not promote a specific candidate, maintain order, and comply with the rules.
It is worth noting that the Guatemalan community in San Francisco will be able to vote for the first time in the presidential elections.
"For many of us it is a dream come true, because we have been fighting since the new constitution of 1985 was made. We have always wanted to exercise the right to vote and be elected, even though we no longer live in Guatemala, because the Constitution says so," said a Guatemalan citizen living in San Francisco to Univisión.
The City College of San Francisco will be one of the places where Guatemalans will be able to vote, in addition to the consulate that exists in the same city.
Guatemalans interviewed by the same television network said it is important for them to vote, since most of their family lives in Guatemala. "And if we can help elect a representative who can help the country to improve and help our families who are there, I would do it," said Eva Pérez, who works in a café and has only been living in San Francisco for a year.
Francisco López, another Guatemalan resident who was unable to register, called on all his fellow countrymen to vote.
"To all my fellow countrymen, if you are going to vote, do so with conscience, because the future depends on it," he said.
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