Election Day!

Today was the election for the local governor elections. Each district (12 in total: Lima, Piura, Huancalvelica, etc.) voted for their perspective governor today. I woke up this morning to a timid knock on my door at 8am. My host cousin told me breakfast was ready. Downstairs, a bunch of people, some new faces, were eating pancakes and talking about politics. The news was on covering the election. After breakfast, the family started to get ready to leave to go vote in Chosica. I was sitting outside with Erick, when Katie’s host parents and her pulled up in a big van and asked me if I wanted to come to Lima with them to vote. I hadn’t showered and I was planning on doing my laundry so of course I said why not! I grabbed my bag and hopped in.

Katie’s host sister had to vote in Lima because that is where she goes to school. In Peru you vote where you go to school or work, not where you live. Her parents planned to drive all the way out there just so she could take 5 minutes to vote. On our way there people covered the sides of the streets and we pulled over to pick up complete strangers and give them a ride for $$. I think that’s how they justified driving all that way in crazy election traffic- they made some money. We literally dropped off Katie’s host sister, circled around for a while, picked her and a bunch more people up, and headed out of Lima.

Then we went past home and into Chosica where Katie’s host parents voted. We parked and walked into a university with them. Elections are only held in high schools and universities. They are super organized as in you have to go to a specific room that coincides with your personal ID number. There were soooo many people there as it’s mandatory to vote. If you don’t, you have to pay a fine of over 100 soles! After voting, you get a sticker on the back of your ID card. Another difference is the amount of police officers at each voting location! Katie’s sister was surprised we don’t have police officers regulating our locations in the US.

The traffic was pretty insane. Not only were there tons of people on the road, but no one seemed to be obeying traffic laws and everyone was in such a hurry. A two lane road became 4 lanes as people pulled onto the shoulders; cars were trying to pass traffic by pulling into oncoming traffic, blocking us so we had to stop and back up traffic… It was just a mess, no way to put into words. I really wish I brought my camera! As we pulled up to my house about 5 hours after leaving, I was so relieved to be home. Katie’s host dad told me now I know how horrible election traffic is! And he’s right. It may not have been one of the most fun days, but it was an important day. It was good for me to experience what Peruvians in Lima deal with.