Chilean voters are heading to the polls today for presidential and parliamentary elections. The race appears to favor a leftist candidate and a far-right contender, both vying for a spot in a second-round runoff.
Opinion polls suggest that Janet Jara, 51, is the frontrunner on the left, positioned to potentially win in the first round. However, polls also indicate that far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast holds an advantage in a decisive second round scheduled for December.
Kast has pledged to crack down on illegal immigration by constructing walls, fences, and digging trenches along the desert border with Bolivia, a key transit point for migrants from poorer nations to the north.
In the final days of the campaign, liberal lawmaker Johannes Kaiser, 49, known for his even more right-wing stance than Kast and his harsh rhetoric on immigration, has gained ground.
Jara has promised to ensure that “every Chilean family can easily make ends meet until the end of the month,” a pledge that has resonated with her supporters.
This year, Chile is implementing mandatory voting for the first time since 2012, adding approximately five million voters to the electorate.
In addition to choosing a new president, voters will also elect members of the Chamber of Deputies and half of the Senate. The outcome of these elections will significantly shape Chile’s political landscape for years to come.
The focus remains on whether Jara can secure a strong enough lead to avoid a runoff, and whether Kast can maintain his projected advantage in a potential second round.
