Chile votes in runoff election amid expectations of sharp rightward shift

Chileans head to the polls on Sunday for a presidential runoff that could deliver the country’s strongest move to the right since the end of military rule in 1990, as crime and security dominate voter concerns.

Nearly 15.6 million registered voters are expected to cast ballots in Chile’s mandatory runoff election, with polls closing at 6 p.m. local time and initial results expected shortly afterwards. The contest pits far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast against Jeannette Jara, the governing coalition’s nominee from the Communist Party.

Jara led the first round in November with 26.85% of the vote, while Kast secured second place with 23.92% after consolidating support from across the right. Analysts say most voters who backed other right-wing candidates are likely to swing behind Kast, potentially giving him more than 50% and the presidency.

The campaign has been dominated by concerns over crime, which has surged in recent years despite Chile remaining one of Latin America’s safest countries. Kast has framed the vote as a choice between order and chaos, arguing that the current administration has failed to contain insecurity and illegal immigration. Speaking in Temuco, a region affected by long-running tensions between Indigenous Mapuche groups and the state, Kast said he would restore order and trust.

Crime has also weighed heavily on President Gabriel Boric, who cannot seek re-election due to term limits. His government increased police funding, created anti-organised crime task forces and deployed the military to the northern border, but his approval ratings remain low and voter frustration has grown.

Jara has sought to counter Kast’s message by promising tougher action on crime alongside expanded social programmes. At her final rally in Coquimbo, she urged voters not to cast blank ballots, warning that the election carried major consequences for Chile’s political direction.

Markets have reacted positively to the prospect of a Kast victory, with the peso strengthening and Chilean equities rising after the first-round vote. Investors expect a more market-friendly agenda focused on deregulation and reforms to pensions and capital markets, although Kast would still face a divided Congress.

The runoff is the first presidential election held under compulsory voting with automatic registration, adding uncertainty to the outcome. Opinion polls suggest around 20% of voters remain undecided or plan to submit blank or null ballots, a factor that could prove decisive in a close race.

Analysts say the election reflects broader public disillusionment with traditional politics and rising demand for security. Whether that mood delivers Kast the presidency or allows Jara to stage an upset will become clear once votes are counted later on Sunday.

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