Cape Verde Local Polls: President Calls for High Turnout
President José Maria Neves of Cape Verde has issued a stirring call for voters to head to the polls this Sunday, urging the nation to combat high abstention rates and strengthen the country’s democratic foundations in its municipal elections.
A Push for Participation
In a formal address to the nation on Saturday—designated as a day of reflection—President Neves emphasized that local government impact’s the most immediate aspects of citizens’ daily lives. He argued that massive participation is essential to legitimizing local leadership.
“A higher or lower turnout at the polls determines the strength of our democracy,” Neves stated. This marks his first major appeal for electoral participation since his own victory in the 2021 presidential elections.
The President’s plea comes as the country looks to improve upon the 2020 local elections, where nationwide abstention reached 41.6%. The situation was particularly stark in the capital city of Praia, where a record 55.6% of the 86,000 registered voters failed to cast a ballot.
Integrity and Readiness
The President of the National Elections Commission (CNE), Maria do Rosário Pereira, confirmed that logistics are fully in place for Sunday’s vote. She praised the campaign period for being “orderly” and free of significant incidents.
However, the lead-up to the vote has not been without controversy. The CNE recently addressed concerns regarding “reputational damage” to the electoral process after the head of the Operational Center for Information Systems (NOSI)—the state entity managing election IT—participated in campaign activities.
To safeguard public confidence, the CNE has restricted the visibility of the IT center and will station independent monitors from the CNE and the General Directorate for Electoral Process Support at the operations center to oversee the disclosure of results.
The Stakes
Voters across the archipelago will choose from 62 competing lists, including five independent citizen movements. With approximately 352,000 registered voters and 1,079 polling stations prepared, the nation stands ready to shape its local leadership for the next term.
Image: Pexels – Sora Shimazaki
