Elections in Chile

Elections in Chile are conducted at the national, regional, and municipal levels to elect the President, members of the National Congress, regional authorities, and local mayors and councilors.

Chile operates under a system of automatic voter registration. All Chilean citizens and foreign residents with at least five years of legal residency, who are 18 years or older on election day, are automatically enrolled. While voting was voluntary between 2012 and 2023, it has since been reinstated as compulsory.

The President of Chile, who serves as both head of state and head of government, is elected by popular vote to a four-year term and may run again after at least one term out of office. The country's bicameral Congress consists of a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate, elected through a system of proportional representation. A significant electoral reform in 2017 replaced the previous binomial voting system, creating new electoral districts and constituencies.

At the sub-national level, voters directly elect regional governors and councilors, as well as municipal mayors and councilors. The constitution also provides for binding national and local referendums. Chile employs a system of state-run, binding primary elections to select candidates for most elected offices.

The voting process is secret and conducted in person, with voters required to present a valid national identity card or passport. The entire electoral process is administered by the independent Electoral Service (Servicio Electoral or Servel), while the official results are certified by the Election Certification Tribunal (Tricel).