Q COSTARICA — For many foreigners who have made Costa Rica their home, the right to vote is more than just a civic duty—it’s a milestone that marks their full embrace of the country’s democratic fabric.
This election season, a wave of naturalized citizens is stepping up to the polls for the first time, signaling a new chapter in their relationship with Costa Rica.
Local officials have noted a steady increase in the number of naturalized voters. This trend reflects broader demographic shifts as Costa Rica becomes an increasingly diverse society. Experts say that these new voters bring fresh perspectives that could influence policy debates on immigration, environmental protection, and economic development.
Just days before the presidential elections, many ask where do I vote?
The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) launched a website where voters can find their assigned polling place.
To do so, voters should visit the following link and enter their cedula (national identity card) number without hyphens.
The system will then display their personal information, a map of the polling center address, and their assigned table number.
Three weeks before the elections, the TSE completed the printing of 7,396,306 ballots that will be used in the national elections on February 1st.
According to official information, the total number of ballots printed exceeds 7 million because, in addition to the ballots for the presidency and vice presidencies, separate ballots are required for the election of legislators, one for each province in the country.
In this election contest, 20 presidential candidates are participating, who will appear on the white ballot, intended exclusively for the election of the positions of president and two vice presidents.
The TSE website lists all the candidates running for president, the two vice presidential spots, and legislative positions from each political party in the election. on Sunday, February 1, 2026
Voting hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in a continuous session.
To provide the country with robust data, the TSE is expected to release the first election results by 8:45 p.m.