Chileans are set to vote on September 4 to decide whether to approve or reject the draft new Constitution. The government watches with concern as support appears to wane, following long months of preparation and debate. The Constitutional Convention was created to reform Magna Carta and deliver a new framework for the country’s fundamental laws, a move that many supporters view as a historic turning point.
Seen as a pivotal moment to close the chapter of mass protests that began in October 2019, the text remains under negotiation. Nevertheless, the Presidency General Secretariat has approved the consultation date, marking a concrete step in the process that has dominated Chile’s political landscape. The plebiscite stands as a historic milestone since the protests that energized calls for constitutional reform.
Efforts to organize practical voting arrangements are being led by the Executive, which is a member of the Electoral Service (Servel). Authorities are completing tasks related to voter registration and public information campaigns. The four of September 2022 has been established as the date for the plebiscite when Chileans will either ratify or reject the proposed constitutional text.
Under the current Constitution, voting is mandatory, and citizens will decide whether to endorse the text produced by the Convention. In early July, the president, Gabriel Boric, and other officials navigated a path to formalize the date by decree. A prominent national newspaper reported that the date would fall on the first Sunday after a 60-day period, aligning the process with established constitutional timelines and electoral law.
Recent public opinion polls indicate a noticeable erosion of support for both the Constitutional Convention and the draft it produced. President Boric himself described the polling as alarming, framing it as a wake-up call to all involved parties to recalibrate their approach and messaging.
During a visit to Argentina, the president articulated a call for a broad, inclusive agreement that would yield a constitution capable of serving as a unifying document for Chile. He emphasized that this process is among the most significant in the country’s history and reiterated that it should reflect a convergence of interests rather than a partisan settlement, with Magna Carta’s legacy shaping the long-term direction of Chilean society and institutions.