Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Chile Heads to Polls Under First Mandatory Vote as Jara Leads and Runoff Likely

Analysts say compulsory voting could reshape turnout in unpredictable ways.

Overview

  • Presidential and full parliamentary elections take place Sunday, with 15.6–15.7 million citizens required to vote under penalties of 0.5 to 1.5 UTM (about 34,000–104,000 pesos) for noncompliance.
  • Pre‑blackout polls place left‑wing officialist Jeannette Jara first in the mid‑to‑high 20s, with José Antonio Kast, Johannes Kaiser and Evelyn Matthei vying for second, and a December 14 runoff widely projected.
  • Several surveys reported by local media indicate Jara leads the first round but could trail right‑wing rivals in head‑to‑head runoff scenarios.
  • Campaigns have officially closed after major rallies, including an estimated 20,000 at Jara’s event in Plaza de Maipú and Kast’s finale at Santiago’s Movistar Arena.
  • Migration and public security dominate the agenda, with roughly 337,000 undocumented migrants voicing fears as Kast pledges detention and expulsions; Servel directs voters to check polling sites online or via 600 6000 166, and IDs expired within 12 months are valid.