Overview
- Polling places opened nationwide for concurrent presidential and legislative races with 15.7 million automatically registered and fines for non‑voters set between 0.5 and 1.5 UTM.
- Pre‑blackout surveys show Jeannette Jara leading the first round, with José Antonio Kast, Johannes Kaiser and Evelyn Matthei locked in a tight fight for second and no candidate expected to clear 50%.
- Kaiser and Kast said they would back any option opposed to Jara if they miss the runoff, signaling right‑side coordination ahead of a potential second round.
- Chile is also electing all 155 deputies and 23 senators, a balance of power that reports suggest could favor right‑of‑center forces in the next Congress.
- Servel reported only 27.5% of mesas constituted at 8:00 but 96% by 9:30, as security and irregular migration dominated voter concerns and campaign messaging.