“Dismissal is something to which we are committed in institutional matters,” said the minister, one day after the video of a presidential delegate asking to vote Approve went viral.
The Segpres minister Giorgio Jackson affirmed this Thursday that the Government supports the disregard for the exit plebiscite for the new Constitution, but defended the idea that each person has their own opinion of the process.
“Prescindence is something with which we are committed in institutional matters, which does not exempt people from having their own political opinion”he said at a press point with Servel authorities.
“We have placed ourselves at the disposal of the Convention to deliver elements for this final phase of the drafting of the transitional (articles) (…) In this transit, the constituted powers we can contribute elements so that it is the best possible implementation, as well as other powers of the State”, he added.
“We are talking from the Judiciary, the Congress, the Central Bank, the Comptroller General of the Republic to the Servel, that is, all the constituted bodies (…) In no case does it constitute a campaign but rather the desire that the process come out in the best possible way”he added.
Jackson’s remarks occur a day after the controversy that surrounded the presidential delegate in La Araucanía, Raúl Allard.
The appointee was recorded in a meeting with Mapuche communities in which he indicated that approving the Convention proposal was necessary.
That unleashed the annoyance of the opposition and from the UDI deputy Henry Leal went to the Comptroller’s Office to request that the possible use of public resources in the activity be investigated and that the representative of President Gabriel Boric in the area be sanctioned.
Authorities and disregard: what is a campaign and what is not?
This morning Jackson had a guideline with Andrés Tagle, president of the board of directors of Servel, to promote the updating of the electoral address.
In the framework of the discussion of the prescindence, Tagle detailed what corresponds to campaign or and what forms of communication do not cause problems.
“It does not constitute a campaign at this stage where the norms that the authorities think about the work are discussed, especially if they are of competition. Everyone is invited,” he started.
“It is also not (campaign) to issue personal opinions by any means before 60 days of the election by internet, video, interview, letter,” he continued.
“It is campaign and publicity that a minister, a conventional or a parliamentarian stands on a corner to distribute flyers in favor of approval or rejection. That is a campaign and it is valid even for the conventional ones, who cannot be handing out flyers, ”he added.
Address update to vote close to home
The focus of the guideline was to reinforce the campaign so that all people with the right to vote in Chile update their address and vote in the place closest to their home for the exit plebiscite on September 4.
This ends on May 1 and is done in two ways: those interested can complete the process via the Internet on the Servel website with a Unique Key or also in person at the service’s offices, which is why its regional addresses will be open. even this Saturday and Sunday, between 09:00 and 17:00.
The President of Servel, Andrés Tagle, announces that this Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, the Servel Regional Directorates will attend from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., where they will be able to request a change of electoral address.#PlebiscitoConstitucional pic.twitter.com/vmuG7eHU8E
— Electoral Service (@ServelChile) April 28, 2022
“Today we are here from the Segpres to invite all those who have the right to cast their vote for this plebiscite to review miconsulta.servel.clwhat is the status of your registration and the data to take advantage of this opportunity to update the address in such a way that you can have access to vote at the location closest to your home, “said Jackson.
“Before this election, the Servel assigned a table within the commune, but not necessarily in the closest area. That meant that many times the local demanded to find means of transport to be able to move and in those days the transport is not so expeditious”, launched the minister.
After that, he extended a general invitation to update the data, although he focused on the fact that this measure can help older adults and people with mobility difficulties more.
REMEMBER ???? Only until this Sunday May 1th you can request the change of your electoral address. Check your data by going to https://t.co/dZzMV9nSdcand if necessary, update them.
#DecideyVota #PlebiscitoConstitucional pic.twitter.com/hLYrIfXOwt— Electoral Service (@ServelChile) April 28, 2022
Plebiscite is with mandatory vote: what happens if I don’t go?
In the law that gave way to the constitutional process, it was established that the plebiscite for the new Constitution would be with a voluntary vote and that if it wins the Approval and a Convention is installed, its proposal should be ratified via referendum with compulsory suffrage.
What happens if someone does not go to the polls this September 4? Well, you expose yourself to fines.
“There is no excuse before. If the person is summoned to the Local Police Court for not having voted before the judge, he presents his reasons why he did not vote and the judge, if he has reasons, will not pass the fine. Or depending on the quality of the argument, a low or high fine”Andres Tagle explained.
“There is no system to present an excuse with justification,” he clarified.