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Chile’s First Compulsory-Vote Presidential Election Points to Runoff as Counting Begins

Early tallies put Jeannette Jara ahead with José Antonio Kast positioned as her likely December 14 opponent.

Overview

  • Polling stations closed at 6 p.m. local time and the official count began after high-turnout lines kept some sites processing voters.
  • Preliminary figures, including provisional overseas precincts, show Jara leading but below the majority needed to win outright.
  • Eight candidates competed in a race shaped by public security and irregular migration as the dominant campaign issues.
  • More than 15.6 million citizens were called to vote at 3,498 polling centers under new compulsory rules that fine non‑voters.
  • Voters also renewed all 155 deputies and 23 Senate seats, making the congressional balance pivotal for the next government’s governability.