Dominicans vote for a new president May 20. Many expect the results will be heavily swayed by expatriates living in the U.S. As Franklin Garcia, president and founder of the lobby group DC Latino Caucus, pointed out in a Huffington Post blog last week, 5% of the total 6.5 million-person voting population are registered to vote overseas. The contest pits Danilo Medina, of the ruling PLD Party, against former President Hipolito Mejia of the rival PRD. Both candidates have campaigned on the U.S. east coast., where Dominican expatriates are concentrated. The candidates have not entirely enthused the electorate, according to Garcia: “Many in the poor nation of 10 million want to see some change after eight years of the PLD, but also fear the days of instability of the Mejia administration,” he concluded.
Ballot Box Watch: Your Guide to May Elections
Global Spin previews the pick of this month's exercises in democracy