Municipal and Regional Elections
Date
This is a movable holiday whose date depends on the electoral calendar. Municipal and regional elections are held on the last Sunday of October every four years. For 2028 they are set for Sunday, October 29, 2028.Historical Background
Municipalities are the level of government closest to people in Chile. Since 1992, after the return to democracy, mayors and councillors have been chosen by popular vote; since 2004, mayors have been elected in a separate vote from councillors.At the regional level, regional councillors began to be directly elected in 2013, and in 2021 regional governors were elected for the first time, replacing the intendants appointed by the President as part of the country's decentralization process. Since then, municipal and regional elections have been held on the same day.
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 or plebiscites are held. The election of mayors and councillors is governed by Ley N° 18.695, the Constitutional Organic Law of Municipalities, and that of regional governors and councillors by Ley N° 19.175, the Constitutional Organic Law on Regional Government and Administration, amended by Ley N° 21.073.Description of the Day
It is a nationwide voting day in which each citizen receives several ballots to elect their local and regional authorities:• Mayor: Head of the municipality, for a four-year term.
• Councillors: Members of the municipal council, which oversees and approves municipal decisions.
• Regional Councillors: Members of the regional council, which approves the region's budget and development plans.
• Regional Governor: Leads the regional government. If no one obtains at least 40% of the votes, a runoff is held.
Results are known the same night and shape the local political map for the next four years.
Important Facts and Curiosities
• Non-Waivable Holiday: It is a non-waivable holiday for retail workers, with the same exceptions that apply on other election holidays.• Compulsory Voting: Since 2023, voting in Chile is once again compulsory for registered voters, with fines for those who do not vote without a valid excuse.
• Several Ballots: Since four different offices are elected, it is one of the days with the most votes per person, so the count usually takes longer.
• Dry Law: During the day, the sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited during the hours set by electoral law.
Municipal and Regional Elections 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.
