How much do the primary elections cost in Argentina?

(CNN Spanish) – The primary, open, simultaneous and compulsory elections (PASO) are 10 years old since they were implemented in 2011. With voices in favor and against, the discussion about how much they contribute to the Argentine party system and what is the expense it represents for the national budget, it is revived each time the appointment with the polls approaches.

On this occasion, while the ruling Frente de Todos will have internal elections in nine districts (Santa Fe, Salta, Chaco, Tucumán, Corrientes, Misiones, La Rioja, Chubut and Neuquén), the opposition coalition Together for Change will have internal elections in 20 of the 24 jurisdictions (Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, La Pampa, Mendoza, Misiones, Río Negro, Salta, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, La Rioja, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego, Tucumán and City of Buenos Aires).

Beyond the dispute over the selection of candidates, the public debate frequently calls into question the resources that the State invests in the primaries. Depending on the calculation that is made, the expense figures differ from one source to another.

According to the National Electoral Directorate, the original budget allocated for the 2021 elections is equivalent to about US $ 172 million for the organization of the primaries and national elections. However, postponed by the pandemic and with a differential organization to implement protocols to avoid contagion by covid-19, the national Executive increased the budget, which reached about US $ 184 million.

This initial breakdown does not distinguish between the PASO and the general ones. However, when asked by CNN, the Interior Ministry explained that historically primary elections consume a higher percentage of the allocated budget than general elections.

The consulted authorities estimated that 60% of the budget is destined for the primaries and 40% for the general ones. That is, about US $ 110 million would go to the primaries.

The lower spending in the November elections is due, as the National Electoral Directorate explained to CNN, to a number of reasons, among which they mentioned a smaller number of lists, and that both the software and the logistics of polling places are being prepared to The STEP and they are ready for use in national elections.

At the same time, they highlight that this year, marked by the pandemic, also brought extra expenses in the purchase of supplies such as disinfectants, signage, suitable personnel and different logistics since more establishments were enabled to vote.

Although the final figure is not defined, from the National Electoral Chamber they explain that in the week before the PASO they have already spent about US $ 74 million.

The PASO in numbers

The extra spending in money required by the primary elections in Argentina also translates into a greater movement in times of pandemic.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, this year the electoral roll registers 34,332,992 people authorized to vote, which will do so in 17,092 establishments (about 2,800 more than in previous elections), with a total of 101,457 tables.

The electoral operation includes 15,170 transmission operators and 2,746 supervisors throughout the country. In addition, there are 25,620 urneros and more than 9,000 Mail workers.

For its part, the General Electoral Command, made up of the Armed Forces and the security and police forces, deploys a total of approximately 95,000 troops.