Overview
- Polling stations shut at 6 p.m. local time and vote counting began, with first official tallies expected later in the night.
- Pre‑vote surveys and initial trends show government-backed Jeannette Jara ahead but short of the absolute majority needed to win outright.
- José Antonio Kast and Johannes Kaiser are contesting a tight race for the other runoff spot, with Evelyn Matthei trailing in most polls.
- Turnout surged under automatic registration and compulsory voting for roughly 15.7 million eligible citizens, after a morning marked by slow table setup and long queues.
- Chile also voted to renew the entire 155-seat Chamber of Deputies and 23 Senate seats, results that could tilt right and shape the next president’s ability to govern.