Argentina: Information on mandatory voting, including methods of enforcement and penalty for violations
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG27954.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: Information on mandatory voting, including methods of enforcement and penalty for violations, 1 October 1997, ARG27954.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac753c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The information that follows was provided during a 14 October 1997 telephone interview with a counsellor at the Embassy of Argentina in Ottawa.
Voting is mandatory for all Argentine citizens. During an election, voters have a stamp placed on the National Identity Document at the voting table to prove that they voted during that election. A citizen who does not vote is subject to a fine and a suspension of his or her political rights; there is no detention or jail for not voting. In practice, the penalties are not enforced, since amnesties for persons who did not vote during previous elections are usually enacted before an election.
There are legally acceptable reasons for not voting during an election, which the voter must explain in writing before an authority to avoid any possible penalty. These justifications include being absent from the country during an election, or being sick and having to remain at home or elsewhere. If the citizen is outside Argentina, the written explanation can be presented at a consulate, whereas in Argentina an explanation has to be presented before electoral authorities.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of the Republic of Argentina, Ottawa. 14 October 1997. Telephone interview with counsellor.
Additional Sources Consulted
Constitution of the Republic of Argentina.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database).
Material from the Indexed Media Review (IMR) or country files containing articles and reports from diverse sources (primarily dailies and periodicals) from the Weekly Media Review.