The Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica is the supreme electoral body of the Republic of Costa Rica. It was created in 1949, when the current Political Constitution of this Central American nation was enacted. The Tribunal is the highest constitutional body in electoral matters and therefore responsible for the organization, direction and supervision of the acts related to suffrage.
By reform of the Political Constitution on June 5, 1975, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal was granted the same rank and independence of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial powers of Costa Rica, making the institution legally the fourth power of the Republic.

Functions

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica has, according to Article 102 of the Political Constitution of 1949, among some of its functions:

To call for popular elections.

  • To appoint the members of the Electoral Boards.
  • To interpret in an exclusive and obligatory manner the constitutional and legal dispositions referring to electoral matters.
  • To hear on appeal the resolutions issued by the Civil Registry and the Electoral Boards.
  • To investigate by itself or by means of delegates, and to pronounce with respect to any denunciation formulated by the parties on political partiality of the servants of the State in the exercise of their positions or on political activities of officials who are prohibited from exercising them.
  • To dictate, with respect to the Public Force, the pertinent measures so that the electoral processes are carried out under conditions of unrestricted guarantees and freedom.
  • Execute the definitive scrutiny of the votes cast in the elections of President and Vice President of the Republic, Deputies to the Legislative Assembly, members of the Municipalities and Representatives to Constituent Assemblies;
    To make the definitive declaration of the election of the President and Vice President of the Republic, within thirty days following the date of the voting and within the term determined by law.

Source: Wikipedia