Is serving as a polling-station member mandatory in Peru? Excuses, pay and what happens if you don't go
Yes. If you are drawn, you cannot decline except on five grounds, which must be filed in writing with proof. If you serve, ONPE pays you 3% of the UIT per election day and, if you completed the training, you get a paid day off. If you don't show up, the fine is 5% of the UIT.
VerificationPartly verifiedSee the sources ↓
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JNE · El Peruano · Peruvian State portal (gob.pe)
Checked 11 Oct 2026Next review 11 Jan 2027
What is still unverifiedWe read the Organic Elections Law (Law 26859) in the text published by the Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE), which notes amendments up to Law 32299 (11 April 2025) and includes the changes made by Law 32231 (pay and day off) and Law 32058 (excuses). We did not check whether later laws, such as Law 32462 (October 2025), changed articles 55 to 61. Article 58 does not say which body receives the excuse or who decides on it, and we could not open the ONPE and JNE pages on gob.pe. What we say about articles 59 to 61 (the draw, challenges and credentials) is a summary of our reading, without a verbatim quote. Supreme Decree 014-2026-TR applied only to the 4 October 2026 elections; we did not review the decrees for other elections. We did not confirm the publication date of Law 28859 in El Peruano: the date we show (3 August 2006) may be the promulgation date.
How polling-station members are chosen
Each polling station (mesa de sufragio) has three full members: the first acts as president and the second as secretary (Organic Elections Law, article 55). Under the wording given by Law 32231, they are chosen by draw from a list of 25 voters registered at that same station. ONPE runs it, in coordination with Reniec, and six substitutes are drawn at the same time. For the list, preference goes to people with more education or who have not yet served.
Under articles 59 to 61, in our reading:
- The draw takes place at least 70 calendar days before the election, and the results are published immediately.
- After publication, any registered citizen or party representative can file a challenge (tacha) within 3 days, with proof.
- Once challenges are resolved, the names of full and substitute members are published and members are called to collect their credential.
Who cannot serve
Article 57 lists twelve bars. Among them:
| Bar | Letter |
|---|---|
| Candidates and representatives (personeros) of political organizations | a |
| Officials and staff of the electoral bodies (JNE, ONPE, Reniec) | b |
| Political authorities and elected authorities | e, f |
| Members of the governing committees of registered political organizations | g |
| Spouses and relatives up to the second degree among members of the same station, or of candidates in the jurisdiction | h, i |
| Voters temporarily absent from the country, according to Reniec’s lists | j |
| Active members of the Armed Forces and Police working on the electoral process | k |
| Members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade (Cuerpo General de Bomberos Voluntarios) | l |
The full list also includes prosecutors working on electoral offences on election day and electoral supervisors from the Ombudsman’s Office (letters c and d).
The five excuses
The post cannot be declined, except for (article 58, as worded by Law 32058):
- A notorious or serious physical or mental impairment.
- Needing to leave the country.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding a child up to two years old on election day.
- Being over 65.
- Falling under one of the bars in article 57.
The excuse «sólo puede formularse por escrito, sustentada con prueba instrumental» (may only be made in writing, backed by documentary proof), up to five days after the list of members is published. Article 58 provides no other deadline. It does not say where to file it.
Pay and the day off
Since Law 32231 (9 January 2025), anyone who actually serves receives:
| Benefit | Condition | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Payment of 3% of the UIT (S/ 165 in 2026) | For each election day | Paid by ONPE |
| One paid day off, not to be made up | Having completed the training | For public and private sector workers. Taken within 90 days after the election; the date is agreed with the employer or, failing agreement, set by the employer |
On top of the law, the Ministry of Labour issued labour measures for the regional and municipal elections of 4 October 2026 (Supreme Decree 014-2026-TR), which applied only to that election: trained members were covered by the law’s day off, and members drawn by lot who did not complete the training, and voters in the queue designated because full or substitute members were absent (article 250 of the Organic Elections Law), who served got a paid day off on Monday 5 October that had to be made up within the following ten days, unless the employer set another date. The decree says ONPE’s participation certificate «acredita la participación del ciudadano como miembro de Mesa de Sufragio» (proves the citizen served as a polling-station member).
If you don’t go
Full and substitute members who do not attend or refuse to serve are fined 5% of the UIT, the same in every district (Law 28859). This is separate from the fine for not voting. Amounts, payment and whether it can be justified are on electoral fines. Who has to vote is on voting in Peru.
How to file
- Check whether you were drawnThe list of full and substitute members is published after the draw, which takes place at least 70 days before the election. If you were chosen, collect your credential when you are called.
- If you have an excuse, file it on timeA notorious or serious physical or mental impairment, needing to leave the country, pregnancy or breastfeeding a child up to two years old, being over 65, or falling under one of the bars in article 57. In writing, with proof, up to five days after publication.
- Do the trainingIt is the condition for the paid day off that does not have to be made up.
- Show up on election day and keep your certificateFor the October 2026 elections, Supreme Decree 014-2026-TR (article 4) provided that the participation certificate ONPE issues proves you served as a polling-station member. Keep it: it shows your employer you served.
- Arrange your day offYou have 90 days from the election. The date is agreed with your employer; if you cannot agree, the employer sets it.
What people fail to ask in time
Skipped your polling station and now have a fine? How do you pay it or justify it?
Find out before it matters →What most people believe — and what the law says
If I don't want to be a polling-station member, I can decline.
No. Article 58 of the Organic Elections Law says the post cannot be declined except on five grounds, filed in writing, with proof, up to five days after the list of members is published.
Polling-station members are not paid.
Since Law 32231 (January 2025), anyone who actually serves receives, for each election day, a payment of 3% of the UIT, paid by ONPE.
People over 65 cannot be polling-station members.
Being over 65 is an excuse, not a bar: you can ask to be excused, but the law does not forbid you from serving. The bars are in article 57.
If I skip my polling station, I only pay the fine for not voting.
The fine for not serving at the polling station (5% of the UIT) is separate from the fine for not voting. If you neither served nor voted, our reading is that both apply.
My employer can make me work back the day off.
If you completed the training and served, the law gives you a paid day off that does not have to be made up. You take it within 90 days after the election, on a date agreed with your employer or, failing agreement, set by the employer.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I get paid?
3% of the UIT for each election day, paid by ONPE, if you actually serve (S/ 165 at the 2026 UIT). If there is a runoff and you serve again, our reading is that it is another election day.
What is the deadline to file an excuse?
Up to five days after the list of polling-station members is published (article 58, which refers to article 61). It must be in writing and backed by documentary proof. Article 58 does not say where to file it; confirm with ONPE or your local Jurado Electoral Especial.
How do I find out whether I was drawn?
Under the law, the draw takes place at least 70 calendar days before the election and the results are published immediately in the media, on posters and on the ONPE, Reniec and JNE websites (article 59).
I live abroad. Can I be drawn in Peru?
Article 57 says voters temporarily absent from the country, according to lists sent by Reniec, cannot be polling-station members. If you vote abroad, your polling station is a different matter: the electoral fines page explains what happens if you fail to serve there.
I didn't do the training or I was picked from the queue. Do I get a day off?
The law's non-recoverable day off is for members who serve and completed the training (article 55, letter b); our reading is that this includes a trained substitute who ends up serving. For the 4 October 2026 elections, Supreme Decree 014-2026-TR (article 3.2) gave members drawn by lot who did not complete the training, and voters in the queue designated because full or substitute members were absent (article 250 of the Organic Elections Law), who served a paid day off on Monday 5 October that had to be made up later. That decree applied only to that election; check whether there is one for the next.
What the fine is
| Conduct | Severity | Range | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not attending or refusing to serve at the polling station, as a full or substitute member Ley N.º 28859, arts. 4 y 5 The law does not classify it as minor, serious or very serious. It is the same in every district and separate from the fine for not voting. | variable | 0.05 UIT S/ 275.00 $80 | Jurado Nacional de Elecciones |
Fines are set in UIT. When the UIT moves, every fine moves with it. UIT 2026 = S/ 5,500 (Decreto Supremo N.º 301-2025-EF). Reference conversion only. The debt is owed in soles.FX rate as of2026-10-12: US$ 1 = S/ 3.457.
The exact law
Ley N.º 26859Artículo 55 (texto modificado por la Ley 32231)read
Organic Elections Law — make-up of the polling station and selection by draw (JNE text)
«Para la selección se prefiere a los ciudadanos con mayor grado de instrucción de la Mesa correspondiente o a los que aún no hayan realizado dicha labor.»
Ley N.º 32231Artículo único (artículo 55 de la Ley 26859, segundo párrafo)read
Law amending Law 26859 to give incentives to polling-station members — the draw
«La designación se realiza por sorteo entre una lista de veinticinco ciudadanos seleccionados entre los electores de la Mesa de Sufragio.»
↳Artículo único (artículo 55 de la Ley 26859, quinto párrafo, literal a)read
Law 32231 — payment of 3% of the UIT per election day
«Por cada jornada electoral, una compensación ascendente al 3% de la unidad impositiva tributaria (UIT), pago que se encuentra a cargo de la Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales (ONPE).»
↳Artículo único (artículo 55 de la Ley 26859, quinto párrafo, literal b)read
Law 32231 — paid day off that does not have to be made up
«el cual se hace efectivo dentro de los noventa días siguientes a la fecha de elección.»
Ley N.º 26859Artículo 57read
Organic Elections Law — who cannot serve as polling-station member (JNE text)
«Los electores temporalmente ausentes de la República, de acuerdo con las relaciones correspondientes que remita el Registro Nacional de Identificación y Estado Civil.»
↳Artículo 58 (texto de la Ley 32058)read
Organic Elections Law — the post cannot be declined except on five grounds (JNE text)
«La excusa sólo puede formularse por escrito, sustentada con prueba instrumental, hasta cinco (5) días después de efectuada la publicación a que se refiere el Artículo 61.»
↳Artículos 59, 60 y 61read
Organic Elections Law — timing of the draw, challenges and publication of members (JNE text)
Ley N.º 28859Artículo 4read
Law reducing fines for not voting — confirms the 5% fine for not serving at the polling station
«confírmase la multa de cinco por ciento (5%) por no asistir o negarse a integrar la mesa de sufragio»
Decreto Supremo N.º 014-2026-TRArtículos 3 y 4read
Labour measures for the Regional and Municipal Elections of 4 October 2026
«reciben un (1) día de descanso remunerado compensable, a gozarse el lunes 5 de octubre de 2026.»
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What this page already lets you do
- Name the rule that protects you
- Copy the exact article and send it
- Follow the steps, in order
- Know how far the fine goes
What this page does not give you yetWe read the Organic Elections Law (Law 26859) in the text published by the Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE), which notes amendments up to Law 32299 (11 April 2025) and includes the changes made by Law 32231 (pay and day off) and Law 32058 (excuses). We did not check whether later laws, such as Law 32462 (October 2025), changed articles 55 to 61. Article 58 does not say which body receives the excuse or who decides on it, and we could not open the ONPE and JNE pages on gob.pe. What we say about articles 59 to 61 (the draw, challenges and credentials) is a summary of our reading, without a verbatim quote. Supreme Decree 014-2026-TR applied only to the 4 October 2026 elections; we did not review the decrees for other elections. We did not confirm the publication date of Law 28859 in El Peruano: the date we show (3 August 2006) may be the promulgation date. See the sources ↑