Nearly 3,000 polling stations opened this Sunday as one of the most pivotal votes in recent memory began. More than 15.1 million Chileans will decide whether to approve or disapprove a proposal for a new Constitution.
If approved, the proposed text would replace the Magna Carta created during the dictatorship era (1973-1990). A portion of society views that constitution as a root cause of inequality and as a framework that could allow the privatization of essential services such as education, health care, and pensions.
If rejected, the current Basic Law would stay in effect. Chile’s president, Gabriel Boric, has indicated that a new constituent process will be organized, aiming to fulfill the mandate from the October 2020 plebiscite in which nearly 80 percent of Chileans called for constitutional change.
Voting centers will stay open until 18:00 local time (23:00 Spanish time), and results are expected to emerge within a few hours.
The president posted on social media during the midnight hours that Sunday would be a significant day and that he is proud to be involved with the process.
“In Chile, differences are settled with greater democracy, not less.”
uncertain outcome
Supporters of the constitutional amendment note that Boric traveled to his hometown of Punta Arenas, about 3,000 kilometers south of Santiago, to observe the process first thing in the morning. Regardless of the result, he is expected to address the nation on a public network after the final tallies are in.
Recent polls have hinted at a tilt toward rejection, but experts warn that the final picture remains open. Voting is universal and mandatory for the first time in Chile, and many eligible voters have not participated in years.
The proposed text would mark Chile as a social and democratic rule of law that is multicultural, regional, and ecological. It would establish a new catalog of social rights and a commitment to equal and inclusive protections.
Constitutional scholars note that parts of the text sit among the most progressive elements seen globally, particularly on gender equality and environmental safeguards, according to a university analyst consulted by the press.
Proponents argue the reform would advance a fairer Chile while reflecting the main calls voiced during the 2019 protests. Opponents contend that the measure is radical and may fail to unify the country.