Chileans head to polls to decide on proposed constitution with big changes – National

Chileans voted on Sunday to approve or reject a progressive new structure that may substitute its present market-friendly textual content relationship again to the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.

The brand new textual content is the results of an settlement reached to quell violent protests towards inequality in 2019 and focuses on social rights, the setting, gender equality and indigenous rights.

Whereas practically 80% of Chileans voted to draft a brand new structure in late 2020, polls present public help for the brand new textual content has dropped amid concern of sure proposals and controversies surrounding the constituents elected to draft it.

The variety of voters planning to vote ‘no’ on the brand new textual content first surpassed the ‘sure’ vote in April and has stored a various lead. The newest polls earlier than a two-week blackout confirmed the ‘no’ vote forward with 47% in contrast with 38% for ‘sure’ and 17% undecided.

However not like earlier elections, this vote is necessary, including one other layer of uncertainty, based on specialists.

“That’s most likely the most important uncertainty, lots of people prefer to extrapolate outcomes from polls,” Rossana Castiglioni, a professor of political science at Diego Portales College, noting that solely 43% of the inhabitants turned out to elect constituents to draft the brand new textual content.

“However the fact is we all know comparatively little from this 50%, from this half of the inhabitants that abstains from electoral processes.”

Greater than 15 million Chileans and residents are eligible to vote throughout greater than 3,000 voting facilities.

Polls will shut at 6 p.m. however keep open for voters ready in line. Chile’s election company expects to have outcomes inside a number of hours.

President Gabriel Boric voted within the southern metropolis of Punta Arenas early on Sunday and vowed to protect unity whatever the consequence.

“Within the troublesome occasions we had as a rustic we took the trail of resolving our variations and transferring ahead with extra democracy,” Boric instructed reporters after voting.

He added that irrespective of the result, the federal government will work with all sectors to “advance in justice, equality, progress and improvement for everybody.”

Some polls from outdoors the nation, together with from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea and China, have already closed and present a positive lead for the brand new textual content. Votes from outdoors the nation traditionally skew extra progressive than the remainder of the citizens.

The ruling coalition has already agreed to switch the textual content whether it is permitted and 57 transitory norms will assist information the transition from one structure to the subsequent.

If the textual content is rejected, Boric has mentioned the method ought to restart to satisfy the mandate given by the 2020 vote to draft a brand new structure. Different political figures have mentioned the present structure needs to be amended given latest legislative adjustments to decrease majorities wanted to take action.