• Chile heads for a presidential runoff on December 14 between Jeannette Jara and José Antonio Kast.
• The first round saw Jara with 26.8% of the vote and Kast with 24% with no candidate securing a majority.
• The election focused on issues of rising crime and immigration, polarizing the electorate.
• This is the first election in Chile with mandatory voting and automatic voter registration.
• Experts believe Kast may benefit from consolidated right-wing votes in the runoff.

Chile is preparing for a presidential runoff on December 14, following a first round where no candidate secured the needed 50% of the vote. Jeannette Jara, the 51-year-old Communist Party candidate and former labor minister, led with approximately 26.8%, while her rival, José Antonio Kast, a 59-year-old ultraconservative, garnered about 24%. This election marks a significant shift, with over 15.7 million voters now required to participate, reflecting a recent change to mandatory voting and automatic registration implemented after years of low turnout, according to South China Morning Post and aa.

The first round's campaign was dominated by concerns over rising crime and immigration, with both candidates pledging to address public safety. Jara has vowed to deport foreigners convicted of drug trafficking and enhance border security, whereas Kast has proposed drastic measures, including constructing barriers along Chile's northern borders to prevent illegal immigration from countries such as Venezuela and Bolivia, according to Al Jazeera and NPR.

Political analysts suggest that Kast may gain support from the right-wing votes of candidates who did not qualify for the runoff, as his strong stance on law and order resonates with a populace anxious about increasing insecurity. Evelyn Matthei, who finished fifth, has already endorsed Kast, further solidifying his position as the primary right-wing candidate. This is crucial, as Jara must appeal to undecided voters who lean more conservative to succeed, according to Los Angeles Times and India Times.

The polarized atmosphere surrounding the election is intensifying, as each candidate presents starkly different visions for Chile's future. Jara aims to promote social welfare and economic reforms, having previously succeeded in raising the minimum wage and strengthening labor rights during her ministerial tenure. Conversely, Kast's proposals lean towards fiscal conservatism and a call for reduced government spending and regulation, echoing sentiments from other right-leaning administrations in the region, according to BBC and Le Monde.