[1] Candidates for the presidency competed for the highest number of votes, with the leader needing more than 50% of valid ballots to avoid a second round.

In addition to voting for the president and vice-president, Dominican expatriates participated in by-elections for seven new seats (within three overseas constituencies) in the Chamber of Deputies.

[7] The main topics of the campaign of 2008 were the issue of reelection,[8] the macroeconomic stability maintained by the Fernández government,[9] and the alleged corruption which dominated the political landscape.

[11] During Fernández's third presidential term several public works projects were carried out, a second line of the metro was opened, tourism grew, and free-trade zones were expanded.

[16][17] Also passed was a law granting fiscal amnesty to all employers behind on their payments into the Social Security system; nonetheless, the attempt to apply it in its entirety failed.

[28] The election board had set up official precincts for Dominicans voters living in the United States, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Panama, Switzerland and Venezuela.

[35] After the PLD declared victory, supporters of Mejía complained about cases of fraud, including vote-buying, and announced to contest the result.

Incidents of vote-buying were confirmed by the observers from the Organisation of American States (OAS), headed by Uruguay's ex-president Tabaré Vázquez.