2021 Chilean Constitutional Convention election

An election for the members of the Constitutional Convention was held in Chile between 15 and 16 May 2021.[2] This election was called after 78% of voters in the 2020 national plebiscite voted to write a new Constitution through this method.[3]

2021 Chilean Constitutional Convention election

15–16 May 2021

155 seats in the Chilean Constitutional Convention
Registered14,900,190
Turnout43.43%
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
PartyVamos por Chile Apruebo Dignidad The List of the People
Seats won372826
Popular vote1,174,5021,070,361927,603
Percentage20.6%18.7%16.2%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
PartyLista del Apruebo Non-Neutral IndependentsIndependent candidates/lists
Seats won251111
Popular vote825,397473,194884,295
Percentage14.5%8.3%15.5%

Results of the 2021 Chilean Constitutional Convention election.[1]

After massive protests and riots sparked in October 2019, an agreement was reached on 15 November 2019 between several political parties to start the process to write a new Constitution.[4] In case the first referendum was approved (originally scheduled for 26 April 2021), a special election would be called to select the members of the Constitutional Convention. This election was originally scheduled for 25 October 2020, six months after the first referendum. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile, the first referendum was moved to 25 October and the eventual election of the members of the Convention was scheduled for 11 April 2021.[5] The extension of the pandemic forced the government to change the date of the election twice later: in March 2021, the election was extended to two days (10 and 11 April)[6] and later, it was postponed by one month to 15 and 16 May 2021 due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.[2]

This was the first time that Chilean citizens were able to vote for the members of the body created to write the Constitution. Although based originally in the system to elect the 155 members of the Chamber of Deputies, this election process established several changes. For the first time, 17 reserved seats were established for the 10 official indigenous groups. Also, different mechanisms in the inscription of candidates and the election system itself were designed to ensure gender parity in the Convention, being the first assembly of this kind in the world with equal representation of men and women.[7]

The election's results were considered a surprise and a complete rearrangement of the political system in Chile established since the end of Pinochet's dictatorship in 1990. A large share of elected members (65 out of 155) were independent candidates organized in new lists (26 from the anti-establishment People's List, 22 others and 17 indigenous representatives). Although Chile Vamos, the governing alliance, was the most voted list in the country, it represented the lowest results in Chilean modern history for right-wing politics, not even reaching the third of members needed to veto in the Convention.[8][9] The successor to Concertación, the main centre-left alliance, finished in fourth place, being surpassed by the alliance made by the leftist Communist Party and the Broad Front.[10] The List of the People, an anti-establishment list of independent candidates, finished in third place.

Electoral system

Ballots used for the Constitutional Convention election: beige ballot for at-large election in the 10th district (left) and green ballot for Mapuche reserved seats. (right).
Ballot box used in the 2021 Constitutional Convention election.

The Constitutional Convention is composed of 155 members directly elected in this election: 138 by the electorate at large and 17 were reserved for citizens identified as indigenous.

The 138 at-large members were chosen in 28 constituencies of between three and eight seats by open list proportional representation. The constituencies are the same used for the election of the 155 members of the Chamber of Deputies. However, the districts with the largest number of indigenous people (according to the last census) and more than 3 seats were reduced by one seat to allocate the reserved indigenous seats.[11] Candidates should be at least 18 years old and not have been previously convicted of a felony. Candidates could be presented by political parties or alliances of parties; in the case of independents candidates, they could participate as single independent candidates (gathering signatures of other independent citizens equal to 0.2% of voters in the last parliamentary election) or as a list (in this case, 0.5% of voters).[12]

Seats were allocated using the D'Hondt method, just like in the parliamentary elections. In April 2020, a constitutional reform made some adjustments to that system to ensure equal representation of men and women in the Constitutional Convention. In case there is no gender equality in a constituency,[n 1] the least-voted elected candidate of the over-represented gender will be replaced by a different-sex member in the same list or political party of the replaced candidate. Also, all alliances and parties had to present a list of candidates alternating their gender, starting with a woman, followed by a man, and so on.[13]

The 17 seats reserved for Chilean indigenous peoples were allocated proportionally, depending on the number of people identifying in the 2017 census: 7 seats for Mapuche,[n 2] 2 for Aymara, and 1 each for the Diaguita, Quechua, Atacameño, Colla, Chango, Rapa Nui, Kawésqar, and Yaghan peoples. Originally, an additional seat was set for the Afro-Chilean tribal group, but the proposal didn't meet the quorum for approval in Congress.[14] Candidates for these seats must have been registered as a member of one of the recognized indigenous groups with CONADI or have an affidavit declaring that, and have to live in one of the designated regions for each group. Citizens identifying as indigenous could choose one of the ballots: the beige for the at-large election or the green for the reserved seats (with different candidates depending on its group). The candidates with the largest number of votes will be elected and, in case there is no gender equality, the least-voted members of the over-represented gender will be replaced by their alternate candidate of the different gender.[15]

Each list also had to present candidates with disabilities at least in 5% of their candidacies. Other proposals to allow more diversity in the Constituent Assembly were rejected, including one to secure 5% of the candidacies to people from gender or sexual minorities or to establish 3 electoral districts (with 8 seats) for Chileans living abroad.[16][17]

Electoral districts

District numberGeographical areaSeats
1st districtArica and Parinacota
3
2nd districtTarapacá
3
3rd districtAntofagasta
4
4th districtAtacama
4
5th districtCoquimbo
6
6th districtAconcagua, Quillota and Petorca
8
7th districtValparaíso, San Antonio and Pacific Islands
7
8th districtSantiago West
7
9th districtSantiago North
6
10th districtSantiago Central
7
11th districtSantiago North East
6
12th districtSantiago South East
6
13th districtSantiago South
4
14th districtSantiago Outer
5
15th districtCachapoal Valley
5
16th districtColchagua Valley
4
17th districtMaule North
7
18th districtMaule South
4
19th districtÑuble
5
20th districtGreater Concepción
7
21st districtBiobio and Arauco
4
22nd districtAraucanía North
3
23rd districtAraucanía South
6
24th districtLos Ríos
4
25th districtOsorno and Llanquihue Lake
3
26th districtPuerto Montt, Chiloé and Palena
4
27th districtAysén
3
28th districtMagallanes and Chilean Antarctica
3
Seats for Chilean indigenous peoples[n 3]17
MapucheCoquimbo, Valparaíso, Santiago, O'Higgins and Maule
1
Ñuble, Biobío, La Araucanía
4
Los Ríos, Los Lagos and Aysén
2
AymaraArica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta
2
DiaguitaAtacama and Coquimbo
1
QuechuaArica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta
1
LickanantayAntofagasta
1
Qulla/CollaAtacama and Coquimbo
1
ChangoAntofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo and Valparaíso
1
Rapa NuiEaster Island
1
KawésqarMagallanes and Chilean Antarctica
1
YaghanMagallanes and Chilean Antarctica
1

Contesting parties and coalitions

71 lists of candidates were submitted and approved by the Electoral Service (Servel). Three run on all 16 regions of the country, including the three largest coalitions with parliamentary representation. 2 coalition lists and the 3 parties presented candidates in different regions, but not in all the country. Other 63 lists of independent candidates were presented on a district level; however, some of them congregated on a national level, being The List of the People, Non-Neutral Independents, and Constituent Social Movements, three of the main coalition of independent lists presented in several regions. 28 independent candidates run outside lists, acting as individual lists in each district.

In total, 1278 candidacies were presented for the at-large election.

CoalitionPartiesIdeologyPolitical positionPrevious election[n 4]Candidates
% VotesSeatsNumberRegions
  Vamos por Chile
Let's go for Chile
List XP.
Chile Vamos:
National Renewal (RN)
Independent Democratic Union (UDI)
Political Evolution (Evopoli)
Democratic Independent Regionalist Party (PRI)
Republican Party (PLR)
Conservatism
Economic liberalism
National conservatism
Nationalism
Liberal conservatism
Centre-right

Right-wing

Far-right[18]

39.02%
72 / 155
18416
 Lista del Apruebo
List of the Approve
List YB.
Constituent Unity:
Socialist Party (PS)
Party for Democracy (PPD)
Radical Party (PR)
Christian Democratic Party (PDC)
Progressive Party (PRO)
Citizens (CIU)
Liberal Party (PL)
Social democracy
Christian democracy
Social liberalism
Progressivism
Centre
Centre-left
35.36%
52 / 155
18216
  Apruebo Dignidad
Approve Dignity
List YQ.
Broad Front:
Democratic Revolution (RD)
Social Convergence (CS)
Commons (Comunes)
UNIR Movement (Movimiento UNIR)
Common Force (FC)
Chile Digno:
Communist Party (PC)
Social Green Regionalist Federation (FRVS)
Libertarian Left
Equality Party (PI)
Direct democracy
Democratic socialism
Socialism of the 21st century
Green politics
Communism
Left-wing
Far-left[19]
15.51%
24 / 155
17116
  La Lista del Pueblo
The List of the People
Lists E., G., J., N., Q., S., WD., WJ., XC., XD., XJ., XT., YL., YP., ZD., ZE., ZI. and ZN.
Coalition of multiple lists of independent candidatesAnti-establishmentLeft-wing

Far-left[20]

New list15515
  Independientes No Neutrales
Non-Neutral Independents
Lists I., L., XR., YF., YU., YV., ZA. and ZT.[n 5]
Coalition of multiple lists of independent candidatesProgressivismCentreNew list12112
  Partido Ecologista Verde
Green Ecologist Party
List XA.
Green Ecologist Party (PEV)Green politicsLeft-wing
Centre-left
1.30%
1 / 155
768
 Movimientos Sociales Constituyentes
Constituent Social Movements
Lists T., XI., YK., YT., YU., ZH., ZK. and ZL.[21][n 5]
Coalition of multiple lists of independent candidatesLeft-wingNew list604
  Partido de Trabajadores Revolucionarios
Revolutionary Workers Party
List ZR.
Revolutionary Workers Party (PTR)Anti-capitalism
Trotskyism
Far-left0.08%
0 / 155
525
  Unión Patriótica
Patriotic Union
List ZB.
Patriotic Union:
Communist P. (Proletarian Action) (PC-AP)
Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR)
• Several smaller groups and movements
Anti-imperialism
Marxism–Leninism
Left-wing nationalism
Far-left0.86%
0 / 155
524
  Ciudadanos Cristianos
Christian Citizens
List YX.
Christian Conservative Party
National Citizen Party
Christian right
Christian fundamentalism
Right-wing populism
Right-wing
Far-right
New list265
  Partido Humanista
Humanist Party
List XG.
Humanist PartyLeft-wing populismLeft-wing0.63%
5 / 155
73
 Lists of independent candidates
29 different lists
1.75%
1 / 155
16413
Independent candidates outside lists2811

Results

By alliance/pact

PartyVotes%Seats
At-large
Vamos por Chile1,174,50220.5637
Apruebo Dignidad1,070,36118.7428
The List of the People927,60316.2426
Lista del Apruebo825,39714.4525
Non-Neutral Independents473,1948.2911
Constituent Social Movements243,9864.273
Green Ecologist Party194,7833.410
Revolutionary Workers Party52,4210.920
Patriotic Union42,1350.740
Christian Citizens37,4790.660
Humanist Party29,0840.510
Other independent lists408,2897.157
Independents232,0204.061
Total5,711,254100.00138
Valid votes5,711,25492.28
Invalid votes187,7603.03
Blank votes289,7134.68
Total votes6,188,727100.00
Indigenous seats
Indigenous seats: Mapuche217,88483.027
Indigenous seats: Aymara19,2417.332
Indigenous seats: Diaguita11,2394.281
Indigenous seats: Lickanantay6,7722.581
Indigenous seats: Colla2,1380.811
Indigenous seats: Quechua2,0760.791
Indigenous seats: Rapa Nui1,8710.711
Indigenous seats: Chango9100.351
Indigenous seats: Kawésqar2490.091
Indigenous seats: Yaghan610.021
Total262,441100.0017
Valid votes262,44192.59
Invalid votes5,3121.87
Blank votes15,6865.53
Total votes283,439100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,239,29522.87
Total turnout
All parties and indigenous candidates5,973,695100.00155
Total5,973,695100.00155
Valid votes5,973,69592.30
Invalid votes193,0722.98
Blank votes305,3994.72
Total votes6,472,166100.00
Registered voters/turnout14,900,19043.44
Source: SERVEL

By party

Party or allianceVotes%Seats
Vamos por ChileIndependent Democrat Union447,0327.8317
National Renewal413,0577.2315
Evópoli255,0694.475
Republican Party59,3441.040
Apruebo DignidadDemocratic Revolution342,1995.999
Communist Party of Chile285,2164.997
Social Convergence184,3203.236
Social Green Regionalist Federation99,4111.744
Comunes91,6591.601
Equality Party67,5561.181
The List of the PeopleThe List of the People861,58015.0923
Insular and Independent27,0640.471
Constituent Assembly of Atacama18,4270.321
Social Coordinator of Magallanes9,5100.171
Tarapacá United People5,9780.100
A Pulso, For a Good Life5,0440.090
Lista del AprueboSocialist Party of Chile276,4554.8415
Christian Democratic Party208,3393.652
Party for Democracy147,3562.583
Liberal Party of Chile71,2831.253
Radical Party of Chile67,4111.181
Progressive Party32,9170.581
Citizens21,6360.380
Non-Neutral IndependentsIndependents for the New Constitution458,8688.0311
Non Neutral from Magallanes4,2450.070
Independents and Social Movements of the Approval10,0810.180
Other independent listsConstituent Popular Assembly35,7780.631
Independents from the North Movement31,4900.551
Independents with Chile28,9470.510
Independents without Sponsors27,9130.490
Biobío without Parties24,5420.430
Independents from Coquimbo Region23,7330.421
Independents of the Approval - Coquimbo Region23,6120.410
Autonomous Social Movements22,8810.401
Independent Flows20,8060.361
Independents like You17,8320.310
Sixth Region United16,3810.290
Citizen Decision13,2140.230
Independent Community of Maule11,4390.200
Independents of Tarapacá11,0810.191
"Ven Seremos" Independent Community10,7920.190
Independent Citizen Regionalism10,1730.181
Independent Chile9,9590.170
Citizen Sovereignty9,9010.170
List for Social Justice9,7100.170
Social Birth Independent List8,6740.150
Our Voices6,0440.110
Join Now5,9060.100
Noble Childs of Tarapacá5,5190.100
Independent Energy5,3200.090
Arica, Always Arica4,5710.080
Social and Union Autonomy Tarapacá3,4490.060
We are all Patagonia3,2980.060
Magallanes Republic of Independents3,2440.060
Self-Convened Council2,0800.040
Constituent Social MovementsConstituent Social Movements212,3243.723
Independents and Social Movements of the Approval31,6620.550
Green Ecologist Party194,7833.410
Revolutionary Workers Party52,4210.920
Patriotic Union42,1350.740
Christian CitizensChristian Conservative Party27,2830.480
National Citizen Party10,1960.180
Humanist Party29,0840.510
Independents232,0204.061
Total5,711,254100.00138
Valid votes5,711,25492.28
Invalid votes187,7603.03
Blank votes289,7134.68
Total votes6,188,727100.00
Source: SERVEL

Indigenous seats

Indigenous peopleValid votesInvalid
votes
Blank
votes
Valid
votes
Eligible
voters
TurnoutCandidatesSeats
Votes%
Mapuche217,88491.94%4,62014,485236,9891,063,98022.27%397
Aymara19,24195.35%30563420,18075,74326.64%182
Diaguita11,23996.83%13823011,60753,88721.54%51
Lickanantay6,77296.37%1091467,02722,56931.14%81
Colla2,13896.70%19542,2119,18324.08%81
Quechua2,07695.05%55532,1847,66128.51%41
Rapa Nui1,87195.22%33611,9653,62354.24%41
Chango91094.89%28219591,95149.15%31
Kawésqar24999.60%1025052847.35%51
Yaghan6191.04%426717039.41%11
Total262,44192.59%5,31215,686283,4391,239,29522.87%9517

Composition

  • Gender: 78 men and 77 women were elected. Due to the corrections applied to ensure gender parity in each constituency, 4 women and 7 men were elected replacing a different-sex member of their own list with a larger number of votes.[22]
  • Age: The age average of the elected members was 44.5 years. The oldest member was 78 years old at the time of the election, while the youngest was 21 years old.[23]
  • Occupation: 59 of the elected members are lawyers and additional 7 were law students. 20 elected members were teachers, 9 were engineers and 5 were journalists. 6 elected members were former members of Congress and 9 were former government authorities.[23]
  • LGBT: At least 7 of the 155 elected members of the Convention declared to be part of a gender or sexual minority.[24]

Members

Notes

References