With the Dec. 6, 2024 elections approaching, Aruba finds itself in an unexpected controversy that threatens to overshadow the democratic process. The Partido Patriotico Arubano (PPA) and the party RAIZ are embroiled in a dispute over campaign styles, with both parties claiming different shades of orange. This conflict has sparked discussions about transparency, clarity for voters and broader inefficiencies in the country's election system.
PPA leader Otmar Oduber made his displeasure clear, accusing RAIZ of using a lighter shade of orange, which could lead to voter confusion. "The identity of a campaign is crucial to ensure that voters make informed choices," Oduber stated, pointing out the potential consequences of this confusion. Political analysts agree that, with elections just around the corner, confusion over party representation could lead to unintended mistakes and undermine confidence in the process.
Press Release: Numbering of Frames and Color Assignment
Oranjestad, Nov. 14, 2024 - During a public session on Nov. 13, 2024 at the Civil Registry and Censo, the Chairman of the Chief Electoral College, Mr. Rossi Marchena, announced that numbering by lot and assignment of colors will take place for the official candidate lists of the political parties.
On November 8, 2024, the Chief Electoral Bureau validated eleven (11) candidate lists of political parties and placed the candidates on their respective lists for the December 6, 2024 parliamentary elections. Following the validation, there were no appeals, allowing the procedure for numbering the lists by drawing lots and assigning colors to begin.
During the public session, the Chief Electoral Bureau drew numbers for five (5) of the eleven (11) participating parties that had not submitted their preferences for draw and color allocation in advance. These parties were LpR, MEP, Partido HTC, PPA and RED.
Political parties could choose from the following colors: brown, light blue, dark blue, yellow, green, light gray, dark gray, orange, light orange, red, pink, light pink, magenta, light purple, dark purple, khaki, white and olive green.
The final numbering of the lists is as follows:
- Partido MAS - Color Light Blue
- Partido PPA - Color Orange
- Partido RAIZ - Color Light Orange
- Partido HTC - Color Light Pink
- Partido CURPA - Color Dark Purple
- Partido Futuro - Color Magenta
- Partido LpR - Color Red
- Partido RED - Color White
- Partido ACCION21 - Color Dark Blue
- Partido MEP - Color Yellow
- Partido AVP - Color Green
For more information, citizens can visit the official website of the Electoral Council of Aruba (er.aw) and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @consehoelectoralaruba. These platforms will serve as an important resource for voters, political parties and the general public to keep abreast of announcements, dates and relevant guidelines for the Aruba elections.
The Bigger Problem: Lack of Official Color Names
This situation exposes a fundamental flaw in the Aruban election system: the lack of standardized color designations or codes. Despite it being 2024, Aruba is still not operating with official color regulations, leading to confusion and potential disputes such as the current conflict between PPA and RAIZ. This incident highlights the need for greater transparency and modernization of the election system to ensure credibility and clarity for voters.
