has set May 7 as the deadline for the Special Electoral Boards (JEE) to hold public hearings for vote recounts, aiming to streamline timelines for the prompt proclamation of the 2026 General Elections results.
The agreement, adopted by the JNE Plenary, clarifies that challenged electoral records involving preferential votes, identified at computing centers of the Decentralized Electoral Process Offices (ODPE), are not subject to recount.
According to the resolution, such observations must be resolved by the JEEs through the application of Resolution No. 0180-2025-JNE, which approved the regulation governing procedures applicable to challenged electoral records, records with contested votes, and records subject to nullity appeals in general elections and in the election of Peruvian representatives to the Andean Parliament.
These cases will be resolved through the comparison of electoral record copies.
The decision was based on estimates that at least 20% of the approximately 65,977 challenged electoral records nationwide handled by the JEEs would proceed to recount.
This scenario would pose a risk to the electoral timeline, including the date of a possible runoff election scheduled for June 7.
Likewise, the agreement noted that the winning presidential candidate is expected to assume office on July 28, 2026.
In the case of senators and deputies, it highlighted the need to resolve disputes that may affect the determination of elected candidates within a defined and timely period.
"Therefore, setting May 7 as the final date to schedule vote recount hearings is based on the need to ensure the timely completion of subsequent stages of the electoral process, such as the registration of results, the proclamation of elected candidates, as well as the preparation and delivery of credentials by the JNE," the agreement stated.
It added that the measure aims to avoid disruptions to preparatory steps linked to a potential presidential runoff, as well as to the accreditation and installation procedures of the legislative chambers.
"Consequently, this is a reasonable, proportionate, and functionally necessary measure to guarantee the continuity and effectiveness of the electoral process," it noted.
Regarding vote recounts, the agreement stressed that limiting their application does not affect the votes obtained by political organizations, nor does it imply, under any circumstances, the nullity of the electoral record, whose preservation is the purpose of the recount.
"It is necessary for vote recounts to be conducted only when the challenged electoral record is at risk of being annulled, along with all votes that political organizations may have obtained. Therefore, recounts will not be extended to preferential votes, since these do not entail the eventual nullification of the organization’s vote," the document stated.