2016 Municipal Elections in Costa Rica: Multi-party System Consolidation and Low Voter Turnout

Abstract

Municipal electoral results in 2016 show the consolidation of the party system fractionalization at the local level. National Liberation Party, the party in control of the majority of mayors and council members since 2006 obtained less seats in 2016 in comparison to 2010. The party in government, Citizens Action Party, got the same proportion of municipalities than four years ago, revealing the difficulties to expand their support beyond few localities. Other parties, like the Social Christian Party and several municipal parties increment their votes and seats. Turnout increases from 28% of the electorate in 2010 up to 35% portraying a clear rural bias and a geographical pattern that differ remarkably from the national contests.