Costa Ricans all over the country will be electing 4,951 leaders, including mayors and other local officials, during the municipal elections Sunday, and observers from around Central America, South America and the Caribbean began arriving yesterday to watch over the process, according to a statement from the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE).

Representatives from Paraguay and Guatemala have arrived, and others were expected to fly in yesterday from Panama, Antigua, Barbados, Honduras, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Organization of American States (OAS).

Today, observers from El Salvador and Puerto Rico are scheduled to arrive, making for a total of 19 observers, the statement said.

The delegates will meet with Vice-President Laura Chinchilla today and with representatives from political parties Saturday in San José.

On Election Day Sunday, the observers will all make their way to different polling places and will conclude the day’s work with a session to analyze Costa Rica’s electoral process.

National observers from universities and public and private institutes will also keep an eye on the elections.

-Tico Times