Chile returns to compulsory voting after a decade of voluntary suffrage

Chili It will cease to be part of the club of countries with voluntary voting, made up of Colombia and Venezuela, among others, after the Chamber of Deputies dispatched the project that restores compulsory suffrage on Monday night.

“It seems to us that it is time that as a country and citizens we take charge of the destiny that we have for our society, which depends on the vote of each and every one of the Chileans,” said Minister Ana Lya Uriartein charge of relations with Congress.

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The legal initiative, which had been in the legislative process for more than two years, still to be enacted by President Gabriel Boric and later a constitutional organic law must be issued to determine sanctions and fines.

The new norm, which obtained 124 votes in favor, six against and three abstentions, establishes that in popular votes, suffrage will be mandatory in all elections and plebiscites, except in primaries.

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This will put an end to the rule that came into force on January 31, 2012 and that established automatic registration in the electoral register and voluntary voting in elections and plebiscites.

At that time, they sought to encourage electoral participation since more than four million people had not joined the electoral roll despite being able to do so. However, it remained the high abstention that exceeded 60% in some votes.

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Until then, the current legislation had been issued during the Augusto Pinochet regime (1973-1990). To participate in the popular votes in Chilicitizens over the age of 18 had to voluntarily enroll in the electoral register, at which point voting became a mandatory right.

With the new legislation approved this Mondaythe automatic registration of Chileans over 18 years of age will be maintained and of foreigners who are of legal age and who have been residing in the country for more than five years, and all of them will be obliged to vote.

In these almost 11 years of validity of the voluntary vote The obligatory nature of suffrage was established on one occasion and in an exceptional way: last September 4, when 61% of the voters rejected the proposal for a new Constitution elaborated by a 100% elected convention.

The next electoral call, where the new law would be released, would be in April or Maywhen the elections of the constitutional councilors are expected to be scheduled, within the framework of a new process to draft a Magna Carta.

In Latin America, 10 countries have compulsory voting: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Honduras, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Peru and Uruguay. Among those who have voluntary suffrage are Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Panama and Guatemala.

Source: Elcomercio

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