Looking ahead to the 2029 general elections, the initiative, debated as part of the process to amend the Electoral Code, aims at strengthening representativeness and informed voting, especially in the election of members of parliament and local authorities.

Civic groups maintain that eliminating straight-party voting would help reduce clientelism and partisan influence, and promote greater individual responsibility among candidates, while political parties express reservations, considering that the change could impact the dynamics of the political organization system.

The Electoral Tribunal (TE) reported that the proposals are part of a consultation process with social organizations, citizen groups, and political actors, with the aim of reaching a consensus on adjustments that address the demands that arose after the last elections.

The debate will continue in the coming weeks, in a context marked by calls for greater transparency and institutional strengthening of Panamanian democracy.

According to the proposal, citizens will be able to vote by marking their preferred candidates with a checkmark or a cross, without exceeding the number of seats being elected in their district.

Although the option to support all candidates on a single list remains, the ballot will not include a special box for voting for a party list, which would require voters to mark each candidate individually.

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