Chile operates as a presidential republic and holds elections to determine its political representatives. Here is some information about the election system in Chile:
- Presidential Elections: The President of Chile is elected through a direct popular vote. Presidential elections are held every four years. To win in the first round, a candidate must secure an absolute majority (50%+1) of the votes. If no candidate achieves this majority, a second round is held between the top two candidates.
- Congressional Elections: The Chilean Congress consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Senators are elected through a binominal system, where each electoral district elects two senators. One senator is chosen from the party or coalition with the highest number of votes, and the second senator is selected from the party or coalition with the second-highest number of votes. Members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected through a proportional representation system, and the number of deputies allocated to each party is determined based on the percentage of votes received.
- Electoral Process: The Electoral Service (Servicio Electoral, also known as Servel) of Chile is responsible for organizing and overseeing elections in the country. It ensures the transparency and fairness of the electoral process, including voter registration, candidate nomination, and the counting of votes. International observers may be invited to monitor the elections.
- Voter Eligibility: Chilean citizens who are at least 18 years old have the right to vote. Voter registration is required, and citizens must be included in the electoral roll to participate in elections. Eligible voters can cast their ballots at designated polling stations within their respective constituencies.
