American officials reminded Nicaraguans they should be voting in presidential elections today, while reaffirming their commitment to regional efforts to restore democracy in the Central American nation.
“We have not forgotten that Nicaraguans should be voting in presidential elections today, as the fourth and illegitimate term of Daniel Ortega comes to an end,” Segura wrote on X.
Ortega-Murillo Rule Systematically Eliminates Elections
The cancellation of what would have been November 2026 elections is the result of a series of institutional reforms pushed by the regime. In early 2025, the government approved a constitutional reform that changed 185 of the 198 articles of the Constitution, extended presidential terms from five to six years, created the figure of the co-presidency for Rosario Murillo, and allowed for indefinite re-election.
On July 19, 2026, during an event commemorating the anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, Ortega publicly declared that Nicaragua would “no longer celebrate elections.” Weeks later, in September, the pro-government National Assembly passed a new reform in its first reading extending terms from six to seven years, effectively canceling the 2026 elections and pushing the next vote to 2028. A final ratification is set for January 2027.
We have not forgotten that Nicaraguans should be voting in presidential elections today, as Daniel Ortega’s fourth consecutive, undemocratic term nears its end. Instead, the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship repeatedly rewrote the rules over the last five years to rob Nicaraguans of…
Systematic Political Repression Documented
As of October 23, 2026, the Association for Memory and Justice for Nicaragua documented 72 political prisoners, 33 of whom are in a state of forced disappearance. The group recorded a total of 1,506 political detentions since 2018.
The United Nations Group of Experts on Human Rights has also verified 161 cases of forced disappearance and eight deaths in state custody since April of this year.
Regional and International Response
The international response has largely been channeled through the Organization of American States (OEA). In August 2026, the United States launched a ministerial process—the first of its kind since 1978—with the support of 28 member states.
On October 2, a Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs approved a resolution demanding the release of political prisoners, the restoration of civil liberties, and conditions for free elections. It created a Follow-up Ministerial Group to present recommendations within a 60-day period.
The Trump administration has also applied direct pressure. It has sanctioned two sons of Ortega and Murillo, regime officials, and companies in the gold mining sector, while imposing visa restrictions on more than 2,350 individuals linked to the Nicaraguan government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the regime an “enemy of humanity” in June 2026.
Nicaragua and Cuba maintain a long-standing political and ideological alliance, with the two regimes mutually supporting each other in international forums and sharing methods of repression against the opposition. Ortega expressed public solidarity with the Cuban government in May 2026.
What’s Next in the OEA Process
The OEA’s Follow-up Ministerial Group was due to report its recommendations on Nicaragua before the 60-day deadline set during the October 2 meeting, which placed the report in early December 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When were the next Nicaraguan elections originally scheduled?
- According to the democratic calendar, presidential elections were scheduled for November 2026 to mark the end of Daniel Ortega’s fourth term.
- What constitutional changes did the Ortega regime enact?
- In early 2025, the government approved a reform that changed 185 of 198 Constitution articles, extended presidential terms to six years, created a co-presidency for Rosario Murillo, and allowed for indefinite re-election. Later, a proposal was made to extend terms to seven years.
- How many political prisoners have been documented in Nicaragua?
- The Association for Memory and Justice for Nicaragua documented 72 political prisoners as of October 23, 2026, with 33 in conditions of forced disappearance. The group recorded a total of 1,506 political detentions since 2018.
