The Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil has officially published the electoral calendar for next year’s regional elections, confirming that citizens will head to the polls on the final Sunday of October, coinciding with Halloween. The announcement sets the stage for a months-long administrative and political process managed by the national election authority.
Electoral Calendar Dates and Candidate Registration Deadlines
The official electoral timeline begins on October 31, allowing significant groups of citizens to start gathering signatures to back their candidates. This early strategy enables groups to build support before the campaign officially kicks off without running into legal infractions. Voters will also be able to update their polling locations starting on October 31 if they need to change where they cast their ballots.
Desde el 31 de octubre de este año, la ciudadanía podrá inscribirse, si lo requiere, para actualizar su lugar de votación,
stated national registrar Hernán Penagos.
Conócelo aquí ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/MilnALTieW
The formal candidate registration period opens on June 30, marking a critical milestone for individuals running for mayor, city council member, governor, and deputy across the country. Penagos emphasized that this step is essential for the structured preparation of the local races. Political parties then have a narrow window from August 2 to August 5 to modify their candidate lists and adjust the hierarchy of aspirants running for municipal councils and departmental assemblies.
Three days following those modifications, the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil will publish the complete roster of candidates who will appear on election day ballots. Electoral propaganda will commence one month later under the regulation of the Consejo Nacional Electoral and local municipal interior secretariats to ensure equitable public visibility.
Did You Know? The electoral calendar explicitly schedules voting hours from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon on October 31, with national vote-tallying tables set to convene across the country the very next day.
Local authorities regulate campaign propaganda during voting hours
Holding regional elections on October 31 presents a unique scheduling alignment for local authorities and voters alike, as the voting hours fall directly on Halloween day. Municipal secretariats of the interior and the Consejo Nacional Electoral carry the responsibility of regulating propaganda to maintain fair campaign conditions while polling stations operate nationwide from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do citizens begin registering their voting locations?
Citizens can start registering or updating their voting locations on October 31, as confirmed by national registrar Hernán Penagos.
When does the formal candidate registration open?
Official candidate registration begins on June 30 for individuals running for mayor, council, governor, and deputy positions across the country.
When will political parties be allowed to change their candidates?
Parties can modify their candidates and adjust assembly or council list hierarchies between August 2 and August 5.