Editing Elections in Chile (section)

==Regional elections==

Each region in Chile is governed by a directly-elected regional governor (''gobernador regional''), chosen through a [[Two-round system|two-round election]], unless a candidate secures a minimum of 40% of the vote in the initial round. The governor is supported by a board consisting of regional advisors (''consejeros regionales'' or ''Cores''), who are also elected directly.

The regional governor serves a four-year term with the possibility of one immediate reelection. Advisors serve four-year terms and are restricted to two consecutive reelections. The number of advisors is proportional to the region's population and area in relation to the country.<ref name="constitution" />

The position of regional governor was first directly elected in May 2021. Prior to that, the regional government was led by an Intendant (''Intendente''), appointed by the President of the Republic. Regional advisors were first directly elected in November 2013.

=== Electoral reform ===
In October 2009, the Constitution was modified to allow regional advisors to be elected directly through universal suffrage.<ref name="constitution" /> In June 2013, a law regulated the direct election of regional advisors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nacional |first=Biblioteca del Congreso |title=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional {{!}} Ley Chile |url=https://www.bcn.cl/leychile |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=www.bcn.cl/leychile |language=es}}</ref> Previously, regional advisors were elected by municipal council members in each region, forming [[electoral college]]s for each provincial region. Each region was allocated two advisors per province, with an additional 10 advisors in regions with up to 1 million inhabitants or 14 more in regions with over 1 million residents. These additional advisors were distributed among provinces based on their proportion of the regional population in the latest census, using the [[D'Hondt method]]. The candidate who received the most votes within each province was declared the winner. However, if two or more candidates ran as a list within a province, the winners were determined using the D'Hondt method.<ref name="regionalgovlaw">[http://www.leychile.cl/Navegar?idNorma=243771 Organic Constitutional Law on Regional Administration and Governance]. Chile Library of National Congress.</ref> Advisors served four-year terms and could be reelected indefinitely. Elections took place 15 days after the council members took office, and the newly elected advisors were sworn in 60 days after their election.<ref name="regionalgovlaw" />

In December 2012, a temporary article was added to the Constitution, suspending the election scheduled for December 21, 2012, and extending the mandate of the incumbent advisors to March 11, 2014. The same article stated that the advisors' first direct election would take place on November 17, 2013, coinciding with the [[2013 Chilean presidential election|presidential and parliamentary elections]], provided that the necessary changes to the law were published before July 20, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 December 2012 |title=LEY-20644 15-DIC-2012 MINISTERIO DEL INTERIOR Y SEGURIDAD PÚBLICA, SUBSECRETARÍA DE DESARROLLO REGIONAL Y ADMINISTRATIVO - Ley Chile - Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional |url=http://www.leychile.cl/Navegar?idNorma=1046748&idParte=&idVersion=2012-12-15 |website=leychile.cl}}</ref>

In January 2017, the Constitution was modified to allow for the direct election of the regional governor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nacional |first=Biblioteca del Congreso |title=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional {{!}} Ley Chile |url=https://www.bcn.cl/leychile |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=www.bcn.cl/leychile |language=es}}</ref> In February 2018, a law regulated the direct election of regional governors, stating that they would be elected at the same time as mayors, councilors, and regional boards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nacional |first=Biblioteca del Congreso |title=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional {{!}} Ley Chile |url=https://www.bcn.cl/leychile |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=www.bcn.cl/leychile |language=es}}</ref> However, the regional boards would only be elected simultaneously with these offices in October 2024, maintaining the current schedule, which stated that the next regional board elections would take place in November 2021, along with the presidential and parliamentary elections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ley 21.073 REGULA LA ELECCIÓN DE GOBERNADORES REGIONALES Y REALIZA ADECUACIONES A DIVERSOS CUERPOS LEGALES |url=http://www.diariooficial.interior.gob.cl/publicaciones/2018/02/22/41990/01/1356576.pdf |website=interior.gob.cl}}</ref>