When the Archers arrived in El Salvador to volunteer for the Lutheran Salvadoran Synod, they expected to spend time on carpentry and maintenance projects. Instead, Salvadoran Lutheran Bishop Medardo Gomez encouraged them to join an international brigade of observers monitoring the country’s March 12 elections for municipal and legislative assembly leaders.
Harry, Molly and their two daughters are members of Fullness of God Lutheran Church, Chelan, Wash., and nearby Parroquia Camino de Esperanza, the Yakima Valley Hispanic Outreach Ministry. After two days of training, they were ready to participate in El Salvador’s complicated election system. Instead of voting in neighborhood precincts, voters report to central locations. Since voters must travel long distances, the election took place on a Sunday, when most businesses were closed. Despite reforms in the election process, irregularities and abuses still occur. Electioneering near voting areas is rampant.
At the International Fair Building in San Salvador, Harry and Molly Archer observed thousands of city residents with last names beginning in A, B or C go to one of 167 tables to pick up a ballot to cast a vote in a cardboard booth.
In the suburb of San Miguel, outdoor voting tables stretched along two miles of highway. The Archer sisters — Hallie, 17, and Natalie, at 14 the youngest international observer — roamed from table to table alongside Salvadoran Boy and Girl Scouts.
The observers help people feel safe in a country where politics is serious business. Voters are fiercely partisan, and most are divided between the right-wing ARENA and the leftist FMLN. “There is no middle ground and no middle class,” Harry said, “yet election volunteers from all parties were trying their best to do a fair job.”
The Archers observed every part of the process, from delivery and set up of ballot boxes on Saturday to the ballot count after elections ended. They were encouraged to photograph any irregularities and file a report with the nongovernmental organization that supervised the observers.
“The presence of international observers means that each election is better, with less fraud and less violence,” Gomez said. “And because [these] people of faith don’t adhere to a particular [local] political party, they have more credibility when they report errors.”
“Our presence says we care about the process,” Molly added. “It’s all about making [it] transparent.”
This week's front page features:
Balancing compliance with compassion: With the Patriot Act and related legislation, aspects of global mission and ministry with immigrants have changed. (Photo at right.).jpg)
Do you write regularly? Would you ever consider sharing your work with others in your congregation? The Lutheran welcomes guest host Jo Buth (right) today through June 27 to discuss her congregation's writing group. 
Andrea Pohlmann blogs about resisting the temptation to attend the "Church of the Holy Comforter."
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