Peru’s presidential vote will remain undecided at least until Monday after logistical problems prevented thousands from casting ballots on Sunday. Electoral authorities announced a one-day extension that allows more than 52,000 Lima residents to vote on Monday; the extension also applies to Peruvians registered to vote in Orlando, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey. Officials had initially said about 63,300 people would be eligible under the extension, then revised that number downward.
Voting is compulsory for Peruvians aged 18 to 70, and failing to vote can lead to a fine of up to about $32. Some 27 million people are registered to vote in this election, including roughly 1.2 million who will cast ballots abroad, mostly in the United States and Argentina.
Thirty-five candidates are competing to become Peru’s next president — the country’s ninth in a decade. The field includes a mix of familiar and unconventional figures, from a former cabinet minister to a popular comedian and a political heiress. A candidate must win more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff; given the fragmented lineup and deep political divisions, a runoff in June is widely anticipated.
Crime and corruption have dominated public concern and campaign messaging. Peru has seen a rise in violent crime in recent years, and many contenders have proposed tough measures in response: building so-called megaprisons, restricting certain prisoner privileges, and even reinstating the death penalty for the most serious offenses.
Standing in line outside a Lima polling place, nurse Heidy Justiniano, 33, said safety was paramount. She pointed to frequent robberies and a recent killing of a bus driver as signs that urgent action is needed. ‘There is so much crime on every corner. What matters most is safety and protecting lives. Politicians do not always keep their promises, so we have to choose wisely this time,’ she said.
In addition to the presidency, voters are selecting members of a newly reestablished bicameral Congress for the first time in more than 30 years. Recent legislative reforms restored an upper chamber and granted it substantial powers, adding another layer of consequence to the day’s delayed outcomes.