Ballot boxes for the 2013 elections in Chile. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Warko (CC BY-SA 3.0)
KEY FACTS
Freedom House Rating
Free
Government Type
Presidential Republic
Population
18.2 million |
UPCOMING ELECTIONS
Local and Regional Elections, Plus Possible Constitutional Convention Delegate Elections
April 11, 2021 (Primaries: November 29, 2020 and possible second round for governors: May 9, 2021)
Presidential and Legislative Elections
November 21, 2021 |
PAST ELECTIONS
Presidential and Legislative Elections
November 19, 2017 (Second round: December 17, 2017)
Local and Regional Elections
October 23, 2016 |
Chile has scheduled local and regional elections for April 11, 2021. Voters will elect governors as well as mayors and local councils throughout the country. After that, presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for November 21, 2021.
Political Context
The upcoming elections in Chile are taking place in the context of a year of protests and riots, including violent looting, arson, and vandalism. Furthermore, an intense debate over a constitutional referendum continues. Valentina Fuentes and Matthew Malinowski note: “For those on the left, overhauling the charter drawn up during the 1973-1990 military dictatorship is the only way to hold together a nation riven by months of violent protests and secure improvements in social justice. For those on the right, change imperils the model that delivered more than 30 years of rapid economic growth, turning Chile from a backwater into one of Latin America’s wealthiest nations per capita.”
For background: From 1973 to 1990, General Augusto Pinochet ran Chile under a military dictatorship. Chile had been a democracy prior to Pinochet, and in a 1988 referendum, Chileans voted not to extend his rule through 1997. Pinochet subsequently conceded defeat and held open elections in 1989, thus restoring democracy. Today, Chile’s parties alternate stints in power, and debate is robust.
Curated News and Analysis
The Economist (October 22, 2020): Chile’s momentous referendum on its constitution: The country will probably become more social-democratic. Will it become spendthrift?
Benedict Mander, Financial Times (October 18, 2020): Chile braces for unrest ahead of poll on constitution
Luisa Horwitz, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (October 8, 2020): Explainer: On the Road to Chile’s Referendum
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content, and their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Updated October 23, 2020
Related
Chile Local and Regional Elections: April 11, 2021 and Presidential and Legislative Elections: November 21, 2021
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Last Updated: November 22, 2020 by 21votes
Ballot boxes for the 2013 elections in Chile. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Warko (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Freedom House Rating
Free
Government Type
Presidential Republic
Population
18.2 million
Local and Regional Elections, Plus Possible Constitutional Convention Delegate Elections
April 11, 2021 (Primaries: November 29, 2020 and possible second round for governors: May 9, 2021)
Presidential and Legislative Elections
November 21, 2021
Presidential and Legislative Elections
November 19, 2017 (Second round: December 17, 2017)
Local and Regional Elections
October 23, 2016
Chile has scheduled local and regional elections for April 11, 2021. Voters will elect governors as well as mayors and local councils throughout the country. After that, presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for November 21, 2021.
Political Context
The upcoming elections in Chile are taking place in the context of a year of protests and riots, including violent looting, arson, and vandalism. Furthermore, an intense debate over a constitutional referendum continues. Valentina Fuentes and Matthew Malinowski note: “For those on the left, overhauling the charter drawn up during the 1973-1990 military dictatorship is the only way to hold together a nation riven by months of violent protests and secure improvements in social justice. For those on the right, change imperils the model that delivered more than 30 years of rapid economic growth, turning Chile from a backwater into one of Latin America’s wealthiest nations per capita.”
For background: From 1973 to 1990, General Augusto Pinochet ran Chile under a military dictatorship. Chile had been a democracy prior to Pinochet, and in a 1988 referendum, Chileans voted not to extend his rule through 1997. Pinochet subsequently conceded defeat and held open elections in 1989, thus restoring democracy. Today, Chile’s parties alternate stints in power, and debate is robust.
Curated News and Analysis
The Economist (October 22, 2020): Chile’s momentous referendum on its constitution: The country will probably become more social-democratic. Will it become spendthrift?
Benedict Mander, Financial Times (October 18, 2020): Chile braces for unrest ahead of poll on constitution
Luisa Horwitz, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (October 8, 2020): Explainer: On the Road to Chile’s Referendum
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content, and their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Updated October 23, 2020
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Category: Overview Tags: Chile