Panama’s presidential race has begun and seeing as though I will not be voting in this year’s election, I have taken the liberty of observing the candidates and overall process with the seriousness of a chipmunk.

My first indication that this would be a different type of election was when I noticed one of the candidates, Juan Carlos Navarro had an oft-updated page on Facebook. Being a new Facebook user myself, I added him as a friend; introducing myself with a message that read “Hey JC, It’s Matt. How’s it hanging?”

In my neighborhood of Casco Viejo, voting precincts are marked by large hordes of people drinking grain alcohol out of styrofoam cups. One that I passed just off Calle 8, even had a small boy riding his family pooch, a beagle I think.

The leader in the race is a woman named Balbina which I think is enough reason in itself to vote. She has billboards plastered up in the City and in the interior that, if you glance quickly, you might mistake for a Pepsi ad. Her hair is nice and long, her smile radiant, and her policies not anything I am familiar with.

Similar to the USA, you may only vote in Panama in the precinct (and province) you are registered to, meaning, that lots of City dwellers use this time to visit their families in Cocle and Veraguas and Chiriqui to cast a ballot. Far removed from the USA though, are the ballots themselves and the surrounding process—not unlike a middle school prom election. Voters are asked to use a pen (not a pencil) and check whatever boxes they wish, then fold up their paper into quarters for discretion and deliver it to a large box.

I am excited to follow this year’s Panama election if, for nothing else, to discover new oddities I’ve never seen before. And maybe, just maybe, if I help him out, Juan Carlos Navarro will respond to my note.

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Filed under: News on January 22nd, 2008