# 2007 Costa Rican Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement referendum

A referendum on the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) was held in Costa Rica on 7 October 2007. It was originally to be held on 23 September 2007, but it was postponed on 5 June 2007 due to a court challenge. Opinion polls from April, July and August 2007 suggested that a majority of voters were in favour, while a poll from June saw a majority against. It was ultimately approved by 51.56% of voters.
The movement against the CAFTA Referendum in Costa Rica brought many members of the Citizens' Action Party to national politics. Several anti-CAFTA organizers have been elected to the Legislative Assembly.

## Party positions

Several parties and organizations held a position against CAFTA. These parties were: Citizens' Action, Broad Front, Social Christian Unity, Accessibility without Exclusion, National Integration, People's Vanguard, National Rescue, Costa Rican Renewal and a sector of National Liberation known as Liberacionistas contra el TLC (Liberationists against CAFTA). Other organizations that endorsed the "No" vote include nearly all trade unions (APSE, ANDE, SEC, ANEP, FIT-ICE, UNDECA, SINDEU), environmentalists (APREFLOFAS, Coecoceiba, FECON), Costa Rica Firefighter Corps, the Lutheran Costa Rican Church, the LGBT Rights movement, and the Cámara de Empresarios Pro-Costa Rica (Pro-Costa Rica Chamber of Commerce). Other organizations against the free trade agreement include the students' federation of all four public universities and their respective rectors; the movement itself (Patriotic Movement Against CAFTA) was directed by Costa Rica Institute of Technology rector Eugenio Trejos
National Liberation Party, Libertarian Movement, National Union Party, and National Restoration Party were in favor of Costa Rica's entry to CAFTA, as so was the majority of Social Christian Unity's congressmen in that legislature. Almost all commerce chambers that made up the Union of Commerce Chambers and Private Enterprise Associations (UCCAEP) also voiced their support for the "Yes" vote. The official movement was called the Citizens' Alliance for Yes and it was led by one of the government's ministers, Alfredo Volio Escalante.
| Position | Political parties | Ideology | Political position |
| Yes | National Liberation Party | Social Democracy | Centre to Centre-left |
| Yes | Libertarian Movement | Libertarianism, Neoliberalism | Right-wing |
| Yes | National Restoration Party | Christian Right | Right-wing |
| Yes | National Union Party | Liberalism | Centre-right |
| No |
| No | Citizens' Action Party | Progressivism | Centre-left |
| No | Social Christian Unity Party | Christian Democracy | Centre-right |
| No | Broad Front | Democratic Socialism | Left-wing |
| No | Accessibility without Exclusion | Disability rights | Centre-right to centre-left |
| No | People's Vanguard Party | Communism | Far-left |
| No | Costa Rican Renewal Party | Christian conservatism | Centre-right to centre-left |
| No | National Integration Party | Syncretic, Conservatism | Right-wing to centre-left |

## Results

According to the Electoral Supreme Tribunal, the referendum was approved by voters in San Jose, Cartago, Heredia, and Limon provinces. Meanwhile, a majority of voters in Alajuela, Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces rejected the proposal.
| Choice | Choice | Votes | % |
| For | For | 805,658 | 51.56 |
| Against | Against | 756,814 | 48.44 |
| Total | Total | 1,562,472 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,562,472 | 99.35 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 10,212 | 0.65 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 1,572,684 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,654,627 | 59.24 |
| Source: Direct Democracy ||||

### By canton

| Region | Region | Electorate | Voter turnout, of eligible | Votes | Votes | Proportion of votes | Proportion of votes |
| Region | Region | Electorate | Voter turnout, of eligible | For | Against | For | Against |
| | San José Province | 966,817 | 61.69% | 308,229 | 288,195 | 51.68% | 48.32% |
| | San José | 224,414 | 61.19% | 75,840 | 61,490 | 55.22% | 44.78% |
| | Escazú | 37,440 | 67.48% | 15,052 | 10,210 | 59.58% | 40.42% |
| | Desamparados | 136,790 | 60.69% | 42,248 | 40,768 | 50.89% | 49.11% |
| | Puriscal | 22,450 | 59.99% | 6,216 | 7,251 | 46.16% | 53.84% |
| | Tarrazú | 9,647 | 54.79% | 2,550 | 2,678 | 48.78% | 51.22% |
| | Aserrí | 34,712 | 59.20% | 9,001 | 11,548 | 43.80% | 56.20% |
| | Mora | 15,626 | 60.83% | 4,819 | 4,686 | 50.70% | 49.30% |
| | Goicoechea | 83,770 | 62.80% | 26,975 | 25,629 | 51.28% | 48.72% |
| | Santa Ana | 24,917 | 65.45% | 9,461 | 6,846 | 58.02% | 41.98% |
| | Alajuelita | 42,193 | 56.15% | 11,978 | 11,713 | 50.56% | 49.44% |
| | Vázquez de Coronado | 41,276 | 66.93% | 14,717 | 12,909 | 53.27% | 46.73% |
| | Acosta | 13,143 | 60.12% | 2,340 | 5,562 | 29.61% | 70.39% |
| | Tibás | 55,642 | 64.93% | 20,218 | 15,911 | 55.96% | 44.04% |
| | Moravia | 37,743 | 68.24% | 14,442 | 11,315 | 56.07% | 43.93% |
| | Montes de Oca | 40,446 | 70.78% | 15,055 | 13,573 | 52.59% | 47.41% |
| | Turrubares | 3,787 | 61.76% | 1,286 | 1,053 | 54.98% | 45.02% |
| | Dota | 4,480 | 56.79% | 961 | 1,583 | 37.78% | 62.22% |
| | Curridabat | 41,983 | 65.65% | 16,273 | 11,288 | 59.04% | 40.96% |
| | Pérez Zeledón | 88,960 | 52.61% | 16,928 | 29,875 | 36.17% | 63.83% |
| | León Cortés | 7,398 | 56.42% | 1,869 | 2,305 | 44.78% | 55.22% |
| | Alajuela Province | 487,734 | 62.05% | 148,044 | 154,587 | 48.92% | 51.08% |
| | Alajuela | 161,455 | 61.45% | 56,515 | 42,695 | 56.97% | 43.03% |
| | San Ramón | 49,052 | 66.70% | 9,195 | 23,524 | 28.10% | 71.90% |
| | Grecia | 46,746 | 65.88% | 17,844 | 12,951 | 57.94% | 42.06% |
| | San Mateo | 3,551 | 59.81% | 1,128 | 996 | 53.11% | 46.89% |
| | Atenas | 16,108 | 69.26% | 4,009 | 7,148 | 35.93% | 64.07% |
| | Naranjo | 25,971 | 63.62% | 8,037 | 8,487 | 48.64% | 51.36% |
| | Palmares | 23,049 | 71.91% | 6,531 | 10,041 | 39.41% | 60.59% |
| | Poás | 16,605 | 68.80% | 7,239 | 4,185 | 63.37% | 36.63% |
| | Orotina | 11,622 | 54.35% | 3,721 | 2,596 | 58.90% | 41.10% |
| | San Carlos | 79,104 | 59.25% | 21,746 | 25,126 | 46.39% | 53.61% |
| | Zarcero | 7,269 | 72.39% | 2,227 | 3,035 | 42.32% | 57.68% |
| | Valverde Vega | 11,754 | 61.30% | 3,729 | 3,476 | 51.76% | 48.24% |
| | Upala | 19,332 | 45.20% | 3,133 | 5,606 | 35.85% | 64.15% |
| | Los Chiles | 8,315 | 47.32% | 1,152 | 2,783 | 29.28% | 70.72% |
| | Guatuso | 7,801 | 47.32% | 1,838 | 1,938 | 48.68% | 51.32% |
| | Cartago Province | 307,819 | 63.08% | 109,644 | 84,542 | 56.46% | 43.54% |
| | Cartago | 98,885 | 66.86% | 38,814 | 27,297 | 58.71% | 41.29% |
| | Paraíso | 36,399 | 62.19% | 12,361 | 10,275 | 54.61% | 45.39% |
| | La Unión | 53,833 | 62.21% | 17,634 | 15,584 | 52.66% | 47.34% |
| | Jiménez | 9,843 | 65.28% | 3,832 | 2,594 | 59.63% | 40.37% |
| | Turrialba | 48,758 | 55.94% | 14,532 | 12,921 | 52.62% | 47.38% |
| | Alvarado | 7,796 | 59.66% | 2,610 | 2,041 | 56.12% | 43.88% |
| | Oreamuno | 27,736 | 63.59% | 9,685 | 7,591 | 54.92% | 45.08% |
| | El Guarco | 24,569 | 64.98% | 10,356 | 5,609 | 64.87% | 35.13% |
| | Heredia Province | 307,819 | 63.08% | 109,644 | 84,542 | 56.46% | 43.54% |
| | Heredia | 79,764 | 66.67% | 29,443 | 23,733 | 55.37% | 44.63% |
| | Barva | 24,782 | 70.15% | 7,839 | 9,546 | 45.09% | 54.91% |
| | Santo Domingo | 28,056 | 69.57% | 10,591 | 8,928 | 54.26% | 45.74% |
| | Santa Bárbara | 20,436 | 67.17% | 6,502 | 7,218 | 47.39% | 52.61% |
| | San Rafael | 27,049 | 65.67% | 8,267 | 9,495 | 46.54% | 53.46% |
| | San Isidro | 11,764 | 66.35% | 4,004 | 3,802 | 51.29% | 48.71% |
| | Belén | 14,547 | 72.06% | 6,859 | 3,624 | 65.43% | 34.57% |
| | Flores | 12,210 | 71.14% | 5,182 | 3,504 | 59.66% | 40.34% |
| | San Pablo | 16,188 | 69.01% | 5,709 | 5,462 | 51.11% | 48.89% |
| | Sarapiquí | 23,403 | 48.70% | 5,228 | 6,169 | 45.87% | 54.13% |
| | Guanacaste Province | 182,208 | 49.45% | 43,051 | 47,962 | 47.30% | 52.70% |
| | Liberia | 33,396 | 44.35% | 6,718 | 8,094 | 45.36% | 54.64% |
| | Nicoya | 33,324 | 51.86% | 7,065 | 9,698 | 42.15% | 57.85% |
| | Santa Cruz | 30,360 | 47.51% | 6,727 | 7,697 | 46.64% | 53.36% |
| | Bagaces | 10,051 | 52.40% | 2,004 | 3,263 | 38.05% | 61.95% |
| | Carrillo | 17,715 | 46.75% | 5,045 | 3,236 | 60.92% | 39.08% |
| | Cañas | 16,097 | 50.03% | 4,138 | 3,916 | 51.38% | 48.62% |
| | Abangares | 10,624 | 55.76% | 2,605 | 3,319 | 43.97% | 56.03% |
| | Tilarán | 12,264 | 60.62% | 3,535 | 3,900 | 47.55% | 52.45% |
| | Nandayure | 6,770 | 57.50% | 2,197 | 1,696 | 56.43% | 43.57% |
| | La Cruz | 8,043 | 42.78% | 1,874 | 1,567 | 54.46% | 45.54% |
| | Hojancha | 4,564 | 59.57% | 1,143 | 1,576 | 42.04% | 57.96% |
| | Puntarenas Province | 241,824 | 47.01% | 55,909 | 57,774 | 49.18% | 50.82% |
| | Puntarenas | 72,060 | 48.57% | 19,378 | 15,625 | 55.36% | 44.64% |
| | Esparza | 16,825 | 57.88% | 5,131 | 4,607 | 52.69% | 47.31% |
| | Buenos Aires | 24,238 | 48.44% | 4,757 | 6,983 | 40.52% | 59.48% |
| | Montes de Oro | 7,999 | 60.51% | 2,311 | 2,529 | 47.75% | 52.25% |
| | Osa | 16,901 | 42.00% | 3,547 | 3,552 | 49.96% | 50.04% |
| | Quepos | 14,895 | 43.55% | 3,323 | 3,164 | 51.23% | 48.77% |
| | Golfito | 22,925 | 41.76% | 4,211 | 5,363 | 43.98% | 56.02% |
| | Coto Brus | 24,953 | 43.45% | 4,150 | 6,693 | 38.27% | 61.73% |
| | Parrita | 8,418 | 44.39% | 2,315 | 1,422 | 61.95% | 38.05% |
| | Corredores | 25,150 | 44.69% | 4,565 | 6,675 | 40.61% | 59.39% |
| | Garabito | 7,460 | 45.34% | 2,221 | 1,161 | 65.67% | 34.33% |
| | Limón Province | 210,026 | 44.48% | 51,157 | 42,273 | 54.75% | 45.25% |
| | Limón | 58,892 | 41.63% | 12,764 | 11,753 | 52.06% | 47.94% |
| | Pococí | 67,001 | 48.42% | 17,154 | 15,289 | 52.87% | 47.13% |
| | Siquirres | 32,141 | 41.67% | 8,984 | 4,410 | 67.07% | 32.93% |
| | Talamanca | 13,722 | 43.97% | 1,784 | 4,249 | 29.57% | 70.43% |
| | Matina | 17,051 | 44.52% | 5,017 | 2,574 | 66.09% | 33.91% |
| | Guácimo | 21,219 | 44.54% | 5,454 | 3,998 | 57.70% | 42.30% |
| Source: TSE ||||||||