Polls close in Peru’s presidential and parliamentary elections

Polls officially closed Sunday in Peru’s presidential and parliamentary elections following a tense day marred by logistical hurdles.

Polling centers officially closed at 6 pm local time (2300GMT), one hour later than originally scheduled.

The National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) authorized the extension to accommodate thousands of voters affected by widespread delays at polling stations across the country.

Millions of Peruvians participated in the high-stakes general election to choose a new president and members of a newly restructured bicameral Congress. With a record-breaking field of 35 presidential candidates, the race has been defined by extreme fragmentation and the lack of a clear frontrunner.

Polling stations were scheduled to open at 7 am, but many locations, particularly in the capital city of Lima, saw delays of up to three hours. The interruptions were primarily caused by the late arrival of electoral materials and a significant absence of volunteer poll workers.

The delays sparked criticism, leading some sectors to raise allegations of irregularities. In response, authorities extended the voting window for the roughly 27 million eligible voters to ensure participation. While some citizens were still unable to cast their ballots before the new deadline, the government announced that they would be exempt from the standard fines usually levied for failing to vote.

Current projections indicate a razor-thin margin among the top seven candidates, none of whom are expected to exceed 15% of the total vote. This fragmentation makes a June 7 runoff election virtually certain as no contender is poised to reach the 50% threshold required for an outright victory.

As of Sunday evening, election officials projected that approximately 60% of the ballots would be processed by midnight, with a primary focus on the presidential results.

The outcome of this election is seen as a critical test for Peru as it transitions back to a two-chamber legislative system in hopes of fostering long-term governance and stability.