Mandatory Vote in a Populist Moment

La Tercera

Lean Right

Factuality

Ownership

DIRECTOR: The triumph of the “Rejection” of the first proposal of the new Constitution generated the illusion that the mandatory vote introduced a more weighted, dispassionate and reformist voter than it voluntarily financed. But that illusion broke in the first presidential round 2025. Indeed, the mandatory vote tended to punish moderate candidates and reward populist and radical candidates. For example, in the communes where participation incr…