San Salvador, February 26 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Political parties in El Salvador formally wrapped up their campaigns Wednesday ahead of local and legislative elections scheduled for Sunday.

The close of the campaign period gives three days for the population to decide their vote without the influence of the parties political campaigns.

Voters in Central America's smallest country will head to the polls to elect mayors and representatives to the country's Legislative Assembly.

While most parties vying for seats Sunday choose to close their campaigns with public events, the ruling Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) opted to break with that tradition and instead will donate the money it would spent on a rally. The party will donate $30,000 to three charitable causes.

The left-wing FMLN is hoping to increase its representation in the Legislative Assembly to help on government's priorities. Salvador Sanchez Ceren — a former guerrilla commander during El Salvador's civil war — was elected president in February 2014, replacing Mauricio Funes, also of the FMLN. Funes was the first ever FMLN candidate to be elected president.

“We have found a very positive response in favor of the FMLN, there is support, we have the confidence that we should continue supporting and accompanying the president, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, there should be a legislative assembly that backs him,” said Norma Guevara, who is seeking a seat in the Legislative Assembly.

A national poll conducted ahead of the election puts FMLN ahead of its right-wing rival 35.7 percent to 27.4 percent. A local poll has Bukele leading by nearly 20 points. The poll was conducted by the University Institute for Public Opinion at the Central American University.