Chileans Vote in Pivotal Election Shaped by Crime, Immigration, and Deep Divisions

Chileans Vote in Pivotal Election Shaped by Crime, Immigration, and Deep Divisions Chileans are casting ballots in a crucial presidential and legislative election on Sunday, a vote dominated by voter concerns over rising crime and immigration policy [5974][5482]. The election pits the governing leftist coalition against several right-wing challengers and is expected to result in a December runoff between two candidates from opposing political extremes [5974][5949]. Polls opened at 8 a.m. local time, with officials prepared to keep stations open if long queues remain. A full vote count is expected within hours of closing [5974]. With eight candidates competing, no single contender is predicted to win the more than 50% of votes required for a first-round victory, making a second round in December highly likely [5974][5819]. The campaign has featured a stark choice for voters, notably between a far-right candidate and the government's former communist labor minister [5819]. This polarization underscores the nation's sharp ideological divide, which the eventual winner will need to navigate to unite a fractured country [5949]. Beyond the presidency, the election will also reshape Chile's congress, setting the nation's political and policy direction for the coming years [5974][5482]. The outcome is widely seen as a public response to pressing social concerns, with crime and immigration being the dominant issues throughout the campaign cycle [5482][5949]. Chileans Vote in Pivotal Election Shaped by Crime and Immigration Chileans Vote in Pivotal Election Shaped by Migration and Crime Concerns Chileans Vote in Pivotal Election Amid Deep Divisions Chileans Vote in Election Dominated by Crime and Polarized Candidates