The TSE announced that no votes can be made in the Costa Rican embassies or consulates by Costa Ricans living overseas.  This announcement came as a result of a petition filed by Jose Manuel Echandi, former Ombudsman. The TSE justices referred to ruling 2531-E-2005 of October 26, 2005, which stated that the TSE is only authorized by law to oversee elections in Costa Rican territory. 

The TSE also referred to an Electoral Code Reform that they presented in 2001 to the Legislative Assembly.  This reform is still pending (surprised?) , but within the reform it calls for the TSE to have the power to set up polling places in Costa Rican diplomatic headquarters abroad.

According to the magistrates. "The resolution of the petition by Echandi Meza is not a matter that this court may resolve, in spite of ample powers given to it by the constitution and the law.  The matter corresponds to another power, the Legislature, by way of a legal reform to the standards established in the Electoral Code that would authorize Costa Ricans to vote from abroad."