By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) is set to revolutionize its vote-counting process for the national elections on Sunday, February 1st. In a significant technological leap, the electoral body will deploy a fleet of smartphones equipped with a custom-built secure application to transmit results from the majority of polling stations, promising a faster and more transparent delivery of preliminary data to the public.
The first provisional results are scheduled to be announced at 8:45 p.m. on election night, providing an early look at the nation’s political direction. This initial report will be the culmination of a massive data-gathering operation spanning 7,154 polling stations (Juntas Receptoras de Votos – JRV) spread across the country and in consulates around the world. The new system is designed to handle this complex flow of information with unprecedented efficiency.
To better understand the legal framework and potential regulatory challenges surrounding the modernization of our electoral system, TicosLand.com consulted with expert lawyer Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The adoption of new election technologies presents a crucial legal crossroads. While innovation can enhance efficiency and accessibility, it must be rigorously balanced against the fundamental principles of legal certainty, data privacy, and auditable transparency. Costa Rica’s legislative framework must evolve proactively, not reactively, to ensure that technological advancements fortify, rather than compromise, the integrity and trustworthiness of our democratic process. The ultimate goal is not just a modern election, but a legally unassailable one.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, the path forward is not merely about adopting new tools, but about reinforcing the very bedrock of our democracy. The emphasis on creating a proactive and robust legal framework to ensure any technological shift results in a “legally unassailable” process is a vital one. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable perspective on this critical issue.
The core of this modernization effort is a two-pronged strategy for data transmission. The primary method will involve 450 trained electoral officials using smartphones to send results directly from the field. This mobile system will cover 4,422 JRV, accounting for a substantial 62% of the total vote. The application used for this process was developed in-house by the TSE’s technical staff and installed on devices with high-security standards to protect the integrity of the data.
Complementing the new mobile approach is the traditional call center system, which will handle the remaining 2,732 polling stations, or 38% of the total. For this method, officials from the JRV will phone in their results to one of three dedicated call centers. A team of 150 operators, following a strict verification protocol, will be stationed at facilities belonging to the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), Radiográfica Costarricense S.A. (Racsa), and the TSE’s own headquarters to receive and process these calls.
Acknowledging the inherent risks of such a digital-forward approach, TSE officials have emphasized the robust security measures in place. Xenia Guerrero, the General Director of Technological Strategy, addressed concerns about potential digital threats, ensuring the public that extensive planning has been undertaken to safeguard the process.
The risk of a cyberattack always exists, but we should be reassured that the TSE has various controls to mitigate risk scenarios; this has been developed with the technical teams
Xenia Guerrero, General Director of Technological Strategy
This initiative is the result of long-term collaboration and rigorous testing. The TSE has worked closely with its key technological partners, ICE and Racsa, to ensure the system is prepared for the demands of election day. This preparation phase included numerous simulations and data transmission tests to iron out any potential issues before the live event.
We have been working with ICE and Racsa since the end of last year, conducting data transmission tests and drills to ensure this is a transparent process and that no doubts remain
Xenia Guerrero, General Director of Technological Strategy
On election night, the system will begin receiving data transmissions at 6:00 p.m. as polls close and the manual count at each station concludes. Once the first results are announced at 8:45 p.m., the TSE plans to provide updates every 15 minutes until 10:00 p.m., with further updates contingent on the incoming flow of information. For Costa Ricans living abroad, results from 91 polling stations in 49 consulates across 42 countries will be transmitted via telephone, with officials processing this international data from Sunday evening through midday on Monday, February 2nd.
For further information, visit tse.go.cr
About the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE):
The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones is the independent constitutional body responsible for organizing, directing, and supervising all acts related to suffrage in Costa Rica. It is considered the fourth branch of government and is tasked with ensuring the integrity, transparency, and fairness of the nation’s democratic electoral processes. The TSE also oversees the Civil Registry, managing the official records of births, marriages, and deaths for all citizens.
For further information, visit grupoice.com
About the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE):
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad is the state-owned provider of electricity and telecommunications services in Costa Rica. Founded in 1949, ICE has been instrumental in the country’s development by expanding infrastructure for power generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as building a modern telecommunications network. The organization is a key partner for government agencies requiring robust and secure technological infrastructure.
For further information, visit racsa.go.cr
About Racsa:
Radiográfica Costarricense S.A. (Racsa) is a subsidiary of Grupo ICE that specializes in providing internet and data connectivity solutions. For decades, Racsa has been a pioneer in Costa Rica’s digital landscape, offering a range of services from corporate data networks to internet access for residential customers. Its expertise in data transmission makes it a vital ally in large-scale national projects like the electoral data collection process.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of integrity and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. The firm skillfully blends a rich tradition of client advocacy with a forward-thinking embrace of legal innovation. This ethos extends beyond the courtroom through a profound commitment to demystifying the law, thereby fostering a more capable and knowledgeable society empowered by accessible legal wisdom.
