Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal gave the first official cut for the votes casted during the Presidential Elections this Sunday, February 4 in Costa Rica.

The first votes counted through 8 p.m. this evening represented 11.57% of the tables and showed candidate Evangelical Preacher Fabricio Alvarado from National Restoration Party (PRN) ahead with 26.71% of the support, followed by Antonio Alvarez Desanti from the National Liberation Party (PLN) with 22.64% and in third place Carlos Alvarado from the Citizens Action Party with 16.07%.

What these numbers show is that most likely there will be a second round, since none of the candidates are reaching 40% of the required votes.

Abstentionism reached an incredible 39.27% . (People who did not vote)

In the second count, with 46.7% of the tables counted (3088), Carlos Alvarado takes the second place with 20.1% , Alvarez drops to third with 19.5% and Fabricio Alvarado maintains first place with 25.9%.

Third count includes 3861 tables, 58.4% of the votes and shows: Fabricio Alvarado 25.6%, Carlos Alvarado 20.6% and Antonio Alvarez 19.2%

The Legislative Assembly at this point has also a very mixed result: PLN 17 deputies, PRN 14 deputies, PUSC 10 deputies, PAC 9, PIN 4, PRSC 2 and FA 1.

The second round by law would have to take place the first Sunday of April but because it falls on Easter Sunday the Supreme Electoral Tribunal would have to make the call to move the date.