It’s a Sunday morning in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and the main office of Participación Ciudadana is alive with activity.
It’s not just any Sunday. It’s Election Day.
The staff of Participación Ciudadana are gathering reports of irregularities as they come in from observers dispatched to polling centers across the country. Others are watching information as it arrives directly from citizens through an app created by Participación Ciudadana, called ¡Atento con tu Voto! – Pay Attention to Your Vote!
Volunteers are answering phone lines, and a small team is ready to document any potential elections crimes. On a big white board in a busy hallway, staff are recording everything they know so far so they can quickly identify hot spots. Upstairs, an analysis commission is sifting through every bit of information.
This is what it takes to monitor and protect free and fair elections.
“In the past, there have been many violations of our legal framework for elections. It’s gotten better, but we still have work to do. This is how we strengthen our democracy.”
–Participación Ciudadana Coordinator Lizzie Sanchez
Established in 1993, Participación Ciudadana is a leading Dominican organization in the fight for the country’s democratic future. It works to reduce public corruption, build government transparency and accountability, and increase citizen participation and access to justice. Pact supports the organization’s elections integrity work through the USAID Civil Society Strengthening Activity. The project is part of the CSM-STAND program, which works to strengthen independent media and civil society around the world.
“Elections are not always part of the conversation about citizen security, but they need to be,” says Pact’s Johnny Bido, a technical lead with the project. “An improved electoral environment is part of holistic citizen security.”
Pact has been a key partner for Participación Ciudadana, helping to strengthen the organization’s capacity, says its executive director, Fátima Lorenzo. Pact’s support has helped Participación Ciudadana to continue its legacy as an essential part of civil society here.
On Dominican Republic’s winter election day, in mid February, volunteer observers organized and trained by Participación Ciudadana witnessed and reported irregularities ranging from illegal campaigning outside of polling places to attempts at vote buying. The municipal elections ushered in mayors and local councilors across the country.
“Strong democratic systems mean that citizens are better protected, especially those who are most vulnerable.”
–Cecile Saborio, Civil Society Strengthening Activity Chief of Party
While Election Day was peaceful, with the vast majority of voters casting their ballots without issue, Participación Ciudadana’s work was critical.
In the afternoon, journalists gathered at the organization’s main office to report on what Participación Ciudadana had documented so that the information could be shared with the public. Participación Ciudadana released a comprehensive report on the election to the media.
Free and fair elections and an informed citizenry are indispensable staples of democracy, says Participación Ciudadana's Lorenzo. "This is worth safeguarding," she says.
© 2026 Pact
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