Regional Governor Elections (Runoff)
Date
This is a movable holiday that only applies in regions where a runoff is required. It is held on the fourth Sunday after the first round. For 2028, if needed, the regional governor runoff will be held on Sunday, November 26, 2028.Historical Background
The office of regional governor was created as part of the 2017 constitutional decentralization reform, which ended the figure of the intendant appointed by the President of the Republic. The first regional governors were elected in 2021.To ensure the elected authority has significant support, the law requires the first-round winner to obtain at least 40% of the valid votes. If no one does, the two most-voted candidates in that region compete in a runoff. In the 2021 and 2024 elections, several regions had to choose their governor this way.
Enactment as a Holiday
Article 169 of Ley N° 18.700, the Constitutional Organic Law on Popular Voting and Vote Counting, declares a legal holiday on any day when elections are held, which includes the regional governor runoff. The election of governors, the 40% threshold and the second vote are governed by Ley N° 19.175, the Constitutional Organic Law on Regional Government and Administration, amended by Ley N° 21.073.Description of the Day
In the regions concerned, citizens return to their polling stations to choose between the two regional governor candidates with the most votes in the first round. It is a single-ballot vote, so the count is quick and results are known the same afternoon.In regions where the governor was elected in the first round, the day is a normal Sunday, with no vote and no holiday.
Important Facts and Curiosities
• Only in Some Regions: The holiday only applies in regions where no candidate reached 40% of the votes in the first round.• Non-Waivable Holiday: Where voting takes place, it is a non-waivable holiday for retail workers, with the same exceptions that apply on other election holidays.
• Compulsory Voting: As in the first round, voting is compulsory for those registered in the region.
• Dry Law: During the day, the sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited during the hours set by electoral law.
Regional Governor Elections (Runoff) dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2028 | Upcoming |
Legal sources
Laws that establish this holiday, on LeyChile (Library of the National Congress of Chile):
Last checked: November 13, 2026.
