On November 24, the second round of the elections for regional governors in 11 of the 16 regions of the country. On this occasion, voting will be mandatory, which means that those who do not vote could face financial sanctions, as indicated by the Electoral Service.
What is the fine for not voting?
According to the new regulations, people who do not participate in these elections will be sanctioned with a fine of 0.5 UTM, which is equivalent to approximately $33,280 today. This measure seeks to guarantee greater citizen participation in a key electoral process to define regional leadership.
What to do if you can’t vote?
If for some reason you cannot go to your polling station, it is possible to excuse yourself before a Local Police judge, who will evaluate the reasons for your non-attendance. In the event that you are more than 200 kilometers from the place where you belong voteyou must record your situation at a Carabineros police station to justify your absence.
In which regions will the second round be held?
The regions where this will take place second round are the following:
- Arica and Parinacota
- Antofagasta
- Atacama
- Coquimbo
- Valparaiso
- Metropolitan
- O’Higgins
- Maule
- Bío Bío
- The Araucanía
- The Lakes
The inhabitants of these regions must go to the polls to elect their next regional governors.
Why is voting mandatory in this election?
He vote mandatory seeks to strengthen democracy by ensuring greater participation in political decisions. Given that in the first round no candidate reached 40% of the votes, this second round is decisive to determine the leadership in each region.
What happens if you don’t pay the fine?
If you do not justify your absence and do not pay the fineyou could face additional legal consequences, since failure to comply with this obligation is punishable by law.