This article details the electoral divisions of Chile, outlining the distinct systems used for electing the national legislature and regional councils.
Overview
Chile employs two primary systems for its elections:
- National Congress: The country is divided into electoral districts (distritos electorales) for the Chamber of Deputies and senatorial constituencies (circunscripciones senatoriales) for the Senate.
- Regional Councils: For the election of regional councillors, Chile is divided into provincial constituencies (circunscripciones provinciales). Typically, each province forms one constituency, though some larger provinces are subdivided into multiple constituencies.
Chamber of Deputies electoral districts
The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 155 members elected from 28 electoral districts. Established by a 2015 electoral reform, these districts were formed by consolidating the previous 60 smaller districts.[1] Each district elects between three and eight deputies using an open-list proportional representation system.
Historical districts (1990–2018)
Prior to the 2015 reform, the Chamber of Deputies was elected from 60 districts (distritos). Each of these smaller districts elected two deputies via a binomial voting system.
| District | Region | Communes | Population[2] (2002 census) |
% of total population |
VAP | Enrolled | Total votes |
Valid votes |
Turnout | E/VAP | T/VAP | V/VAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arica and Parinacota | Arica, Camarones, Putre, General Lagos | 189,644 | 1.3% | 131,900 | 111,699 | 82,438 | 74,721 | 73.8% | 84.7% | 62.5% | 56.6% |
| 2 | Tarapacá | Iquique, Huara, Camiña, Colchane, Pica, Pozo Almonte, Alto Hospicio | 238,950 | 1.6% | 217,175 | 125,620 | 100,659 | 93,105 | 80.1% | 57.8% | 46.3% | 42.9% |
| 3 | Antofagasta | Tocopilla, María Elena, Calama, Ollagüe, San Pedro de Atacama | 175,205 | 1.2% | 126,235 | 94,336 | 74,572 | 65,886 | 79.0% | 74.7% | 59.1% | 52.2% |
| 4 | Antofagasta | Antofagasta, Mejillones, Sierra Gorda, Taltal | 318,779 | 2.1% | 274,313 | 148,543 | 124,270 | 110,858 | 83.7% | 54.2% | 45.3% | 40.4% |
| 5 | Atacama | Chañaral, Diego de Almagro, Copiapó | 161,223 | 1.1% | 128,050 | 79,247 | 66,737 | 61,076 | 84.2% | 61.9% | 52.1% | 47.7% |
| 6 | Atacama | Caldera, Tierra Amarilla, Vallenar, Freirina, Huasco, Alto del Carmen | 93,113 | 0.6% | 66,816 | 57,092 | 47,856 | 43,260 | 83.8% | 85.4% | 71.6% | 64.7% |
| 7 | Coquimbo | La Serena, La Higuera, Vicuña, Paiguano, Andacollo | 202,335 | 1.3% | 177,984 | 111,506 | 97,551 | 88,930 | 87.5% | 62.6% | 54.8% | 50.0% |
| 8 | Coquimbo | Coquimbo, Ovalle, Río Hurtado | 265,896 | 1.8% | 229,291 | 129,887 | 114,297 | 106,372 | 88.0% | 56.6% | 49.8% | 46.4% |
| 9 | Coquimbo | Combarbalá, Punitaqui, Monte Patria, Illapel, Salamanca, Los Vilos, Canela | 134,979 | 0.9% | 100,999 | 78,935 | 65,760 | 60,636 | 83.3% | 78.2% | 65.1% | 60.0% |
| 10 | Valparaíso | La Ligua, Petorca, Cabildo, Papudo, Zapallar, Puchuncaví, Quintero, Nogales, Calera, La Cruz, Quillota, Hijuelas | 280,655 | 1.9% | 231,725 | 166,787 | 151,165 | 136,805 | 90.6% | 72.0% | 65.2% | 59.0% |
| 11 | Valparaíso | Los Andes, San Esteban, Calle Larga, Rinconada, San Felipe, Putaendo, Santa María, Panquehue, Llaillay, Catemu | 223,594 | 1.5% | 186,085 | 127,631 | 116,197 | 106,992 | 91.0% | 68.6% | 62.4% | 57.5% |
| 12 | Valparaíso | Olmué, Limache, Villa Alemana, Quilpué | 277,525 | 1.8% | 253,998 | 155,295 | 136,331 | 121,650 | 87.8% | 61.1% | 53.7% | 47.9% |
| 13 | Valparaíso | Valparaíso, Juan Fernández, Isla de Pascua | 280,406 | 1.9% | 210,529 | 173,947 | 145,787 | 130,751 | 83.8% | 82.6% | 69.2% | 62.1% |
| 14 | Valparaíso | Viña del Mar, Concón | 319,204 | 2.1% | 261,273 | 202,518 | 174,962 | 159,004 | 86.4% | 77.5% | 67.0% | 60.9% |
| 15 | Valparaíso | San Antonio, Santo Domingo, Cartagena, El Tabo, El Quisco, Algarrobo, Casablanca | 158,468 | 1.0% | 143,078 | 102,863 | 92,954 | 85,760 | 90.4% | 71.9% | 65.0% | 59.9% |
| 16 | Santiago | Colina, Lampa, Tiltil, Quilicura, Pudahuel | 454,969 | 3.0% | 442,415 | 196,354 | 181,399 | 164,475 | 92.4% | 44.4% | 41.0% | 37.2% |
| 17 | Santiago | Conchalí, Renca, Huechuraba | 340,844 | 2.3% | 237,603 | 174,946 | 157,655 | 140,469 | 90.1% | 73.6% | 66.4% | 59.1% |
| 18 | Santiago | Cerro Navia, Quinta Normal, Lo Prado | 356,640 | 2.4% | 236,121 | 185,340 | 166,885 | 150,425 | 90.0% | 78.5% | 70.7% | 63.7% |
| 19 | Santiago | Recoleta, Independencia | 213,699 | 1.4% | 138,808 | 131,104 | 115,167 | 102,642 | 87.8% | 94.4% | 83.0% | 73.9% |
| 20 | Santiago | Estación Central, Cerrillos, Maipú | 670,690 | 4.4% | 699,393 | 294,624 | 267,571 | 241,446 | 90.8% | 42.1% | 38.3% | 34.5% |
| 21 | Santiago | Providencia, Ñuñoa | 284,385 | 1.9% | 224,404 | 219,453 | 190,697 | 177,839 | 86.9% | 97.8% | 85.0% | 79.2% |
| 22 | Santiago | Santiago | 200,792 | 1.3% | 138,022 | 139,240 | 119,474 | 108,786 | 85.8% | 100.9% | 86.6% | 78.8% |
| 23 | Santiago | Las Condes, Vitacura, Lo Barnechea | 406,141 | 2.7% | 356,860 | 256,711 | 228,983 | 215,643 | 89.2% | 71.9% | 64.2% | 60.4% |
| 24 | Santiago | La Reina, Peñalolén | 312,822 | 2.1% | 248,132 | 163,297 | 148,120 | 135,303 | 90.7% | 65.8% | 59.7% | 54.5% |
| 25 | Santiago | Macul, San Joaquín, La Granja | 342,680 | 2.3% | 232,383 | 181,069 | 161,616 | 142,146 | 89.3% | 77.9% | 69.5% | 61.2% |
| 26 | Santiago | La Florida | 365,674 | 2.4% | 303,912 | 168,849 | 154,173 | 141,103 | 91.3% | 55.6% | 50.7% | 46.4% |
| 27 | Santiago | El Bosque, La Cisterna, San Ramón | 355,618 | 2.4% | 243,119 | 189,698 | 169,440 | 149,776 | 89.3% | 78.0% | 69.7% | 61.6% |
| 28 | Santiago | Pedro Aguirre Cerda, San Miguel, Lo Espejo | 306,232 | 2.0% | 203,393 | 183,352 | 162,779 | 146,294 | 88.8% | 90.1% | 80.0% | 71.9% |
| 29 | Santiago | Puente Alto, Pirque, San José de Maipo, La Pintana | 712,941 | 4.7% | 659,161 | 228,013 | 209,409 | 184,587 | 91.8% | 34.6% | 31.8% | 28.0% |
| 30 | Santiago | San Bernardo, Buin, Paine, Calera de Tango | 378,444 | 2.5% | 322,710 | 185,875 | 169,866 | 152,201 | 91.4% | 57.6% | 52.6% | 47.2% |
| 31 | Santiago | Talagante, Peñaflor, El Monte, Isla de Maipo, Melipilla, María Pinto, Curacaví, Alhué, San Pedro, Padre Hurtado | 358,614 | 2.4% | 300,179 | 195,395 | 182,129 | 163,708 | 93.2% | 65.1% | 60.7% | 54.5% |
| 32 | O'Higgins | Rancagua | 214,344 | 1.4% | 175,330 | 108,471 | 98,630 | 90,298 | 90.9% | 61.9% | 56.3% | 51.5% |
| 33 | O'Higgins | Mostazal, Graneros, Codegua, Machalí, Requínoa, Rengo, Olivar, Doñihue, Coinco, Coltauco, Quinta de Tilcoco, Malloa | 236,358 | 1.6% | 191,752 | 139,992 | 130,457 | 117,289 | 93.2% | 73.0% | 68.0% | 61.2% |
| 34 | O'Higgins | San Fernando, Chimbarongo, San Vicente, Peumo, Pichidegua, Las Cabras | 188,247 | 1.2% | 151,199 | 109,415 | 101,090 | 93,894 | 92.4% | 72.4% | 66.9% | 62.1% |
| 35 | O'Higgins | Placilla, Nancagua, Chépica, Santa Cruz, Lolol, Pumanque, Palmilla, Peralillo, Navidad, Litueche, La Estrella, Pichilemu, Marchihue, Paredones | 141,678 | 0.9% | 112,478 | 93,316 | 84,467 | 78,037 | 90.5% | 83.0% | 75.1% | 69.4% |
| 36 | Maule | Curicó, Teno, Romeral, Molina, Sagrada Familia, Hualañé, Licantén, Vichuquén, Rauco | 244,053 | 1.6% | 198,539 | 141,956 | 130,790 | 119,898 | 92.1% | 71.5% | 65.9% | 60.4% |
| 37 | Maule | Talca | 201,797 | 1.3% | 171,840 | 101,083 | 90,845 | 83,967 | 89.9% | 58.8% | 52.9% | 48.9% |
| 38 | Maule | Curepto, Constitución, Empedrado, Pencahue, Maule, San Clemente, Pelarco, Río Claro, San Rafael | 151,169 | 1.0% | 116,050 | 92,478 | 82,820 | 76,507 | 89.6% | 79.7% | 71.4% | 65.9% |
| 39 | Maule | Linares, Colbún, San Javier, Villa Alegre, Yerbas Buenas | 169,520 | 1.1% | 130,381 | 103,483 | 90,468 | 83,491 | 87.4% | 79.4% | 69.4% | 64.0% |
| 40 | Maule | Longaví, Retiro, Parral, Cauquenes, Pelluhue, Chanco | 141,558 | 0.9% | 105,142 | 91,096 | 78,463 | 72,949 | 86.1% | 86.6% | 74.6% | 69.4% |
| 41 | Biobío | Chillán, Coihueco, Pinto, San Ignacio, El Carmen, Pemuco, Yungay, Chillán Viejo | 272,081 | 1.8% | 213,455 | 154,180 | 136,256 | 125,991 | 88.4% | 72.2% | 63.8% | 59.0% |
| 42 | Biobío | San Fabián, Ñiquén, San Carlos, San Nicolás, Ninhue, Quirihue, Cobquecura, Treguaco, Portezuelo, Coelemu, Ránquil, Quillón, Bulnes, Cabrero, Yumbel | 211,802 | 1.4% | 157,287 | 142,296 | 122,545 | 112,459 | 86.1% | 90.5% | 77.9% | 71.5% |
| 43 | Biobío | Talcahuano, Hualpén | 250,348 | 1.7% | 192,901 | 137,077 | 118,209 | 107,257 | 86.2% | 71.1% | 61.3% | 55.6% |
| 44 | Biobío | Concepción, San Pedro de la Paz, Chiguayante | 377,810 | 2.5% | 320,848 | 206,846 | 180,532 | 167,843 | 87.3% | 64.5% | 56.3% | 52.3% |
| 45 | Biobío | Tomé, Penco, Florida, Hualqui, Coronel, Santa Juana | 235,642 | 1.6% | 188,420 | 140,963 | 124,924 | 113,555 | 88.6% | 74.8% | 66.3% | 60.3% |
| 46 | Biobío | Lota, Lebu, Arauco, Curanilahue, Los Álamos, Cañete, Contulmo, Tirúa | 206,344 | 1.4% | 150,714 | 123,242 | 106,442 | 97,420 | 86.4% | 81.8% | 70.6% | 64.6% |
| 47 | Biobío | Los Ángeles, Tucapel, Antuco, Quilleco, Santa Bárbara, Quilaco, Mulchén, Negrete, Nacimiento, San Rosendo, Laja, Alto Biobío | 307,535 | 2.0% | 240,503 | 174,267 | 150,628 | 137,868 | 86.4% | 72.5% | 62.6% | 57.3% |
| 48 | Araucanía | Angol, Renaico, Collipulli, Ercilla, Los Sauces, Purén, Lumaco, Traiguén | 140,907 | 0.9% | 97,638 | 88,296 | 72,931 | 67,446 | 82.6% | 90.4% | 74.7% | 69.1% |
| 49 | Araucanía | Victoria, Curacautín, Lonquimay, Melipeuco, Vilcún, Lautaro, Perquenco, Galvarino | 140,091 | 0.9% | 101,118 | 89,302 | 73,425 | 66,797 | 82.2% | 88.3% | 72.6% | 66.1% |
| 50 | Araucanía | Temuco, Padre Las Casas | 304,142 | 2.0% | 265,574 | 150,388 | 128,930 | 120,052 | 85.7% | 56.6% | 48.5% | 45.2% |
| 51 | Araucanía | Carahue, Nueva Imperial, Saavedra, Teodoro Schmidt, Freire, Pitrufquén, Cholchol | 142,795 | 0.9% | 106,139 | 86,895 | 73,235 | 67,023 | 84.3% | 81.9% | 69.0% | 63.1% |
| 52 | Araucanía | Cunco, Pucón, Curarrehue, Villarrica, Loncoche, Gorbea, Toltén | 141,600 | 0.9% | 112,773 | 86,261 | 72,761 | 67,591 | 84.3% | 76.5% | 64.5% | 59.9% |
| 53 | Los Ríos | Valdivia, Lanco, Mariquina, Máfil, Corral | 186,565 | 1.2% | 149,295 | 107,308 | 90,736 | 83,776 | 84.6% | 71.9% | 60.8% | 56.1% |
| 54 | Los Ríos | Panguipulli, Los Lagos, Futrono, Lago Ranco, Río Bueno, La Unión, Paillaco | 169,831 | 1.1% | 123,147 | 98,249 | 83,748 | 77,496 | 85.2% | 79.8% | 68.0% | 62.9% |
| 55 | Los Lagos | Osorno, San Juan de la Costa, San Pablo | 164,468 | 1.1% | 129,621 | 97,096 | 84,502 | 77,595 | 87.0% | 74.9% | 65.2% | 59.9% |
| 56 | Los Lagos | Puyehue, Río Negro, Purranque, Puerto Octay, Fresia, Frutillar, Llanquihue, Puerto Varas, Los Muermos | 151,583 | 1.0% | 114,001 | 92,626 | 82,407 | 76,494 | 89.0% | 81.3% | 72.3% | 67.1% |
| 57 | Los Lagos | Puerto Montt, Cochamó, Maullín, Calbuco | 226,951 | 1.5% | 202,368 | 113,521 | 97,605 | 87,526 | 86.0% | 56.1% | 48.2% | 43.3% |
| 58 | Los Lagos | Castro, Ancud, Quemchi, Dalcahue, Curaco de Vélez, Quinchao, Puqueldón, Chonchi, Queilén, Quellón, Chaitén, Hualaihué, Futaleufú, Palena | 173,737 | 1.1% | 144,130 | 97,470 | 82,926 | 75,564 | 85.1% | 67.6% | 57.5% | 52.4% |
| 59 | Aisén | Coihaique, Lago Verde, Aisén, Cisnes, Guaitecas, Chile Chico, Río Ibáñez, Cochrane, O'Higgins, Tortel | 91,492 | 0.6% | 72,475 | 58,540 | 43,734 | 40,961 | 74.7% | 80.8% | 60.3% | 56.5% |
| 60 | Magallanes | Natales, Torres del Paine, Punta Arenas, Río Verde, Laguna Blanca, San Gregorio, Porvenir, Primavera, Timaukel, Cabo de Hornos, Antártica | 150,826 | 1.0% | 116,734 | 99,847 | 72,132 | 66,163 | 72.2% | 85.5% | 61.8% | 56.7% |
Notes: "VAP" is voting age population (population 18 and above on 13 December 2009); "Valid votes" is equal to "Total votes" minus null votes and blank votes; "T" are total votes; "E" is enrolled population; "V" are valid votes. The voting results are for the 13 December 2009 Chamber of Deputies election.
Senatorial constituencies
The Senate comprises 50 members. Following a 2018 reform, each of Chile's 16 regions now constitutes a senatorial constituency, with each electing between two and five senators.[3]
| Sen. const. | Region | Senators |
|---|---|---|
| 1° | Arica and Parinacota | 2 |
| 2° | Tarapacá | 2 |
| 3° | Antofagasta | 3 |
| 4° | Atacama | 2 |
| 5° | Coquimbo | 3 |
| 6° | Valparaíso | 5 |
| 7° | Santiago | 5 |
| 8° | O'Higgins | 3 |
| 9° | Maule | 5 |
| 10° | Biobío | 3 |
| 11° | La Araucanía | 5 |
| 12° | Los Ríos | 3 |
| 13° | Los Lagos | 3 |
| 14° | Aysén | 2 |
| 15° | Magallanes | 2 |
| 16° | Ñuble | 2 |
Historical senatorial constituencies (1990–2018)
Before the 2018 reform, Chile used 19 senatorial constituencies. Most regions formed a single constituency, but five larger regions (Valparaíso, Santiago, Maule, Biobío, and La Araucanía) were each split into two. Each constituency elected two senators under the binomial system.
| Sen. const. | Informal name | Geographical composition | Last election |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | Arica and Parinacota Region (XV), Tarapacá Region (I) | 2009 |
| 2 | — | Antofagasta Region (II) | 2013 |
| 3 | — | Atacama Region (III) | 2009 |
| 4 | — | Coquimbo Region (IV) | 2013 |
| 5 | Valparaíso Cordillera | Districts 10, 11 and 12 of Valparaíso Region (V) | 2009 |
| 6 | Valparaíso Coast | Districts 13, 14 and 15 of Valparaíso Region (V) | 2009 |
| 7 | Santiago West | Districts 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 30 and 31 of Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM) | 2013 |
| 8 | Santiago East | Districts 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 of Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM) | 2013 |
| 9 | — | O'Higgins Region (VI) | 2013 |
| 10 | Maule North | Districts 36, 37 and 38 of Maule Region (VII) | 2009 |
| 11 | Maule South | Districts 39 and 40 of Maule Region (VII) | 2009 |
| 12 | Biobío Coast | Districts 42, 43, 44 and 45 of Biobío Region (VIII) | 2013 |
| 13 | Biobío Cordillera | Districts 41, 46 and 47 of Biobío Region (VIII) | 2013 |
| 14 | Araucanía North | Districts 48 and 49 of Araucanía Region (IX) | 2009 |
| 15 | Araucanía South | Districts 50, 51 and 52 of Araucanía Region (IX) | 2009 |
| 16 | — | Los Ríos Region (XIV) [Before August 15, 2009: Los Ríos Region (XIV) and district 55 of Los Lagos Region (X)][4] | 2013 |
| 17 | — | Los Lagos Region (X) [Before August 15, 2009: Districts 56, 57 and 58 of Los Lagos Region (X)][4] | 2013 |
| 18 | — | Aisén Region (XI) | 2009 |
| 19 | — | Magallanes Region (XII) | 2013 |
Provincial constituencies (Regional Councils)
Members of Chile's Regional Councils (Consejos Regionales) are elected from 64 provincial constituencies.[5] Generally, each province forms one constituency. However, five populous provinces—Valparaíso, Santiago, Cachapoal, Concepción, and Cautín—are subdivided into multiple constituencies. The number of councillors elected per constituency is proportional to its population.
| Region | Provincial constituencies | Advisors |
|---|---|---|
| Arica and Parinacota | Arica, Parinacota | 14 |
| Tarapacá | El Tamarugal, Iquique | 14 |
| Antofagasta | Antofagasta, El Loa, Tocopilla | 16 |
| Atacama | Chañaral, Copiapó, Huasco | 14 |
| Coquimbo | Choapa, Elqui, Limarí | 16 |
| Valparaíso | Isla de Pascua, Los Andes, Marga Marga, Petorca, Quillota, San Antonio, San Felipe de Aconcagua, Valparaíso I, Valparaíso II | 28 |
| Santiago | Chacabuco, Cordillera, Maipo, Melipilla, Santiago I, Santiago II, Santiago III, Santiago IV, Santiago V, Santiago VI, Talagante | 34 |
| O'Higgins | Cachapoal I, Cachapoal II, Cardenal Caro, Colchagua | 16 |
| Maule | Cauquenes, Curicó, Linares, Talca | 20 |
| Biobío | Arauco, Biobío, Concepción I, Concepción II, Concepción III, Ñuble | 28 |
| Araucanía | Cautín I, Cautín II, Malleco | 20 |
| Los Ríos | Ranco, Valdivia | 14 |
| Los Lagos | Chiloé, Llanquihue, Osorno, Palena | 16 |
| Aisén | Aisén, Capitán Prat, Coihaique, General Carrera | 14 |
| Magallanes | Antártica Chilena, Magallanes, Tierra del Fuego, Última Esperanza | 14 |
Subdivisions of major provinces
The following five provinces are divided into two to six provincial constituencies, each containing a number of communes:[6]
- Valparaíso Province:
- Valparaíso I: Puchuncaví, Quintero, Concón, Viña del Mar.
- Valparaíso II: Juan Fernández, Valparaíso, Casablanca.
- Santiago Province:
- Santiago I: Pudahuel, Quilicura, Conchalí, Huechuraba, Renca.
- Santiago II: Independencia, Recoleta, Santiago, Quinta Normal, Cerro Navia, Lo Prado.
- Santiago III: Maipú, Cerrillos, Estación Central.
- Santiago IV: Ñuñoa, Providencia, Las Condes, Vitacura, Lo Barnechea, La Reina.
- Santiago V: Peñalolén, La Granja, Macul, San Joaquín, La Florida.
- Santiago VI: El Bosque, La Cisterna, San Ramón, Lo Espejo, Pedro Aguirre Cerda, San Miguel, La Pintana.
- Cachapoal Province:
- Cachapoal I: Rancagua.
- Cachapoal II: Mostazal, Graneros, Codegua, Machalí, Olivar, Doñihue, Coltauco, Las Cabras, Peumo, Coinco, Malloa, Quinta de Tilcoco, Rengo, Requínoa, Pichidegua, San Vicente.
- Concepción Province:
- Concepción I: Tomé, Penco, Hualpén, Talcahuano.
- Concepción II: Chiguayante, Concepción, Florida.
- Concepción III: San Pedro de la Paz, Coronel, Lota, Hualqui, Santa Juana.
- Cautín Province:
- Cautín I: Temuco, Padre Las Casas.
- Cautín II: Galvarino, Lautaro, Perquenco, Vilcún, Melipeuco, Carahue, Cholchol, Freire, Nueva Imperial, Pitrufquén, Saavedra, Teodoro Schmidt, Cunco, Curarrehue, Gorbea, Loncoche, Pucón, Toltén, Villarrica.
See also
References
- ^ Nacional, Biblioteca del Congreso. "Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional | Ley Chile". www.bcn.cl/leychile (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ "National Institute of Statistics". Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Nacional, Biblioteca del Congreso. "Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional | Ley Chile". www.bcn.cl/leychile (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Artículo undécimo", Law 20,174, National Congress of Chile.
- ^ Resolución 10.615 from 22 July 2013, amended on 27 July 2013. Servicio Electoral.
- ^ Law 19,175
