El Salvador Elections 2027: What You Need to Know About the Unified Election
El Salvador will hold a historic unified election on February 28, 2027: presidential, legislative, and municipal elections all on the same day. This guide addresses resident Salvadorans, the diaspora, and foreign observers seeking to understand the reformed Salvadoran electoral process.
Question: When are the next elections in El Salvador and how to vote from abroad?
Answer: Unified election on February 28, 2027 (presidential + legislative + municipal). Salvadorans abroad vote online via the official TSE portal votacion.tse.gob.sv (REVEL registration open until November 4, 2026).
2027 Electoral Calendar: Unified Election
Key Date
- February 28, 2027: Presidential election (6-year term) + Legislative (60 deputies) + Municipal (44 municipios)
Diaspora Calendar 2027 (Voting from Abroad)
Official TSE Dates for Electronic Voting
- June 16, 2025 – November 4, 2026: REVEL registration (Registro Electoral para el Voto Electrónico)
- October 8, 2025 – February 27, 2026: Suspension of address changes and electoral effects
- August 27 – November 28, 2026: Organization of voting centers abroad (JELVEX)
- December 18–30, 2026: Ballot preparation for remote voting
- January 30 – February 28, 2027: Online voting period for Salvadorans abroad
2023-2025 Constitutional and Electoral Reforms: What Changes
The reforms profoundly transform the electoral system:
Main Changes
- Presidential: Term extended from 5 to 6 years starting 2027 (next in 2033)
- Unified election: Presidential, legislative, and municipal on the same day (Feb 28, 2027)
- Deputies: 84 → 60 seats (28.6% reduction), D'Hondt method (replaces Hare)
- Overseas constituency: New for 2027 – 60 deputies elected in 14 departments + 1 special diaspora constituency
- Municipalities: 262 → 44 municipios (83% reduction) – former municipalities become districts with local services maintained
Voting from Abroad: How-To (Diaspora)
Since 2024, Salvadorans residing abroad can vote entirely online via the official TSE portal. For 2027, the system expands:
What the Diaspora Votes for in 2027
- President (already possible in 2024)
- Deputies of the special overseas constituency (new for 2027 – before 2024, diaspora votes were automatically assigned to San Salvador department)
- Municipal councils of the 44 municipios (based on district of origin)
How to Vote from Abroad
- Register in REVEL at votacion.tse.gob.sv (deadline: Nov 4, 2026)
- REVEL: UNTIL November 4 and DUI address update before late November 2026
- Receive credentials via email/SMS before the voting period
- Vote online from January 30 to February 28, 2027 on votacion.tse.gob.sv
Registration and Verification: Practical Guide
Residents in El Salvador
- Automatic registration via RNPN (National Registry of Natural Persons)
- Verify your voting center at www.tse.gob.sv
- Required ID on election day: valid DUI
Salvadorans Abroad
- Voluntary REVEL registration (deadline: November 4, 2026)
- Proof of nationality: Salvadoran passport or DUI + proof of residence abroad
- Valid email and phone mandatory (for voting codes)
- DUI address update before late November 2026
Vigilance Points and Transparency
- International observation: TSE invites observation missions (OAS, EU, etc.)
- Results transmission: PREP system (preliminary results) in real time
- Appeals: Contestable before TSE within 72h of proclamation
- Campaign finance: Spending caps revised per 2023-2025 reforms
For Foreign Observers and Media
Official Resources
- TSE (Supreme Electoral Tribunal): www.tse.gob.sv – Results, calendars, regulations
- Diaspora voting portal: votacion.tse.gob.sv
- Diaspora electoral calendar: www.tse.gob.sv/publico/calendario-electoral
- Legal framework: Reformed Código Electoral + 2023-2025 Constitutional Reforms
Conclusion
February 28, 2027 marks a historic turning point: first unified presidential-legislative-municipal election, 6-year presidential term, and diaspora voting for its own deputies via special overseas constituency. Whether you are in San Salvador, Los Angeles, Madrid, or Quebec, register in REVEL before November 4, 2026 and update your DUI address before late November 2026 to exercise your right to vote.