The external voting right of Bolivians abroad: What role for emigrants in regime transformation in their homeland?

Abstract

In this chapter, we propose to analyze the development of the external voting<br />issue in the Bolivian political context between 2003 and 2009. Examining<br />the evolution of relations between the Bolivian Government and its diaspora<br />(particularly after the coming to power of Evo Morales Ayma in 2006), we will<br />demonstrate how the topic has progressively become central within Bolivian<br />politics and how emigrants have played an active part in their own enfranchisement.<br />In particular, we will see how ?the process of change? instigated by<br />the Morales government has found an extension among citizens abroad. To do<br />so, we will analyse different government documents, public interventions and<br />interviews of civil servants and representatives of civil society organizations. After the first part of this article on the path to the adoption of the 2009 electoral<br />law enfranchising citizens abroad, we shall proceed to an analysis of the<br />electoral behaviour of citizens abroad based on an exit-poll survey conducted<br />with citizens abroad during the Presidential Election on 6th December 2009.<br />