Chile approved the project mandating the vote; text goes to presidential sanction

Chile will not be part of the group of voluntary voting countries made up of Colombia, Venezuela, and others, after the House of Representatives approved the project Monday night (19) to restore mandatory voting.

“It seems it’s time, as a country and as citizens, to take on the fate we have for our society, which depends on the votes of each Chilean,” said Ana Lya Uriarte, Minister for Relations with Chile. Congress.

The legislative initiative, which has been going on for more than two years, has yet to be enacted by President Gabriel Boric. An organic constitutional law will then be enacted to set sanctions and fines.

The new norm, adopted with 124 votes in favour, 6 against and 3 abstentions, establishes that voting will be mandatory in all elections and plebiscites except primary elections.

This ends the rule that came into force on 31 January 2012, establishing automatic registration in the electoral register and voluntary voting in elections and plebiscites.

At the time, the aim was to encourage voter turnout, because more than four million people were not registered on the electoral register, although they could. However, the high abstention rate, exceeding 60% in some votes, was maintained.

Prior to that, the legislation in force was set during the Augusto Pinochet regime (1973-1990). To participate in the popular elections in Chile, citizens over the age of 18 had to voluntarily register with the electoral registry, at which point voting became a mandatory right.

With new legislation passed this Monday, automatic registration of Chileans over the age of 18 and underage foreigners who have resided in the country for more than five years will continue, and all will be required to vote.

In this almost 11 years of voluntary voting, compulsory suffrage was established once and exceptionally: on September 4, 61% of voters rejected a proposal for a new Constitution drawn up by a 100% elected congress.

The next call for elections, when the new law will take effect, could be in April or May, when the election of constitutional advisers within the framework of a new Magna Carta writing process is foreseen.

Ten countries in Latin America use mandatory voting: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Honduras, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Peru and Uruguay. Those with voluntary voting rights include Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Panama and Guatemala.