The Electoral Justice Authority outlines procedures for Single Paper Ballot use.
Here's How the New Voting System is Shaping Up
Following the green light from the National Congress on Law No. 27,781, implementing the Single Paper Ballot (SPB) system in national elections, and Decree No. 1049/2024, the National Electoral Chamber has taken charge, rolling out Extraordinary Resolution No. 40/2025 to ensure smooth nationwide implementation.
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This ruling by judges Daniel Bejas, Alberto Dalla Via, and Santiago Corcuera addresses operational needs and wraps up a complex process, ready to enable a seamless electoral experience across our federated nation's 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
Single Paper Ballot Design
The SPB will feature a user-friendly design, providing a comprehensive view of the national positions up for grabs in each district. Its size will be determined by the diversity of contesting groups.
Political parties will occupy distinct columns, and each category of positions will have its row. Candidate parties' offerings will appear in boxes, making it easy to follow. For instance, senators will take the first horizontal row, while deputies will be lower down in districts that elect both categories.
In addition, each party's identificatory number, denomination, and logo will be prominently displayed above their candidates' boxes. Above the photos of the top two candidates, a white square space of at least one centimeter on each side will be provided for voting. The names of the first candidates will be listed below their photos.
At the top of the ballot, you'll find the district, section, and circuit details. On the back, clear instructions for folding and depositing your ballot securely in the ballot box will be included, along with security elements such as a microtext grid, making it challenging to copy or falsify the ballot.
Voting Day
On voting day, tables will be equipped with two voting booths to speed up the process. Each establishment will display posters showcasing the complete electoral offering, reinforcing the vote's secrecy by prohibiting the photography of marked ballots.
During the counting phase, specific poster templates will be provided to the table authorities, enabling them to record votes accurately. If simultaneous or concurrent elections occur, separate urns will be utilized, with national categories always being counted first, followed by local ones.
Assistance for voters with special needs will be available, with the helper's name and ID registered in the registry.
A Consensus-Driven Process
The development of these guidelines didn't take place in isolation. The National Electoral Chamber embarked on a wide-ranging consultation process with various democratic system stakeholders, including judges, electoral secretaries, political party representatives, non-governmental organizations, and representatives of civil society.
Provincial electoral organizations with Single Ballot experience, as well as public entities linked to the electoral process such as the National Electoral Direction, General Electoral Command, and Official Mail, also contributed valuable insights.
The design offers uniformity across the nation. Ballot formats will be adjusted according to the number of political groups participating in each district, ensuring clarity for voters.
To avoid voter confusion, the agreed interpretation acknowledges the potential impact of different ballot formats aired by national television networks, particularly in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, if the formats vary from those used in the provinces.
This comprehensive agreement signifies a significant step forward in modernizing Argentina's electoral system, aiming to enhance transparency, speed, and security in the voting process.
With these guidelines in hand, we're on our way to ensuring that the 2025 elections run smoothly and citizens swiftly adapt to the new voting instrument. The success of the implementation hinges on the collective efforts of citizens, political parties, communication media, civil society, and the electoral justice system itself.
- The influencer marketing revolution in digital communication, as discussed in "Politics and the Power of Persuasion," could play a significant role in promoting understanding and acceptance of the innovative Single Paper Ballot (SPB) system among the general public.
- The new voting system standardization, outlined in Extraordinary Resolution No. 40/2025, is expected to influence policy-and-legislation relating to elections, setting a new standard that ensures a more transparent, speedy, and secure voting process in Argentina.
- Santiago Corcuera, one of the judges responsible for the implementation of the SPB system, will likely exert an impact on politics with his influential role in shaping the country's voting policies and procedures.
- The comprehensive agreement reached by various stakeholders, including political parties, non-governmental organizations, and civil society, is sure to influence general news coverage of the upcoming elections, shedding light on the novel SPB system and its potential impact on democracy in Argentina.
