69% of voters voted in Argentina’s primary, down from the 2019 primary

The voting process for the candidates who will contest the elections in Argentina was attended by 69% of registered voters, according to the report released this Sunday (13) by the National Electoral Chamber, reported the news agency Télam.

The number is almost seven points less compared to the last presidential primary elections (Paso, in Spanish for Open, Simultaneous and Mandatory Primaries) held in 2019, in which the call to the polls reached 76.4%.

This Sunday, Argentines went to the polls to define the candidates who will run for positions in the Mercosur Parliament, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, as well as the presidency and vice-presidency of the country.

Attendance is mandatory for all Argentine voters between the ages of 18 and 70 who live in the country. Those who do not vote enter the list of violators and must pay a fine, unless they justify their absence for reasons of health or distance.

If the voter does not explain his absence, he still does not receive any impediment to vote in the general elections.

The scenario is a little different for political groups. The primaries are also mandatory for them – but if they do not participate in this election, they cannot have candidates in the general elections.

Most of the seats in the Chambers of Deputies and Senators are also being renewed, and there are votes to elect governors in 21 of the 23 provinces, as well as the mayor of Buenos Aires.

The pre-candidates chosen today will, in fact, be the candidates who will run for President of Argentina on October 22nd.

Candidates would need 45% to win the general election in the first round, or 40% with a 10-point advantage over the runner-up.

If neither party achieves this, there will be a second round on November 19th.

*Published by Diego Mendes, with information from Salma Freua, from CNN.