View source for Elections in Argentina

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Politics of Argentina}}

At the national level, [[Argentina]] elects a [[head of state]] (the [[president of Argentina|President]]) and a [[legislature]]. The [[universal suffrage|franchise]] extends to all citizens aged 16 and over, and [[Compulsory voting|voting is mandatory]] (with a few exceptions) for all those who are between 18 and 70 years of age.

The President and the [[Vice President of Argentina|Vice President]] are elected in one ballot, for a four-year term, by direct popular vote, using a [[Two-round system|runoff voting]] system: a second vote is held if no [[Political party|party]] wins more than 45% of the votes, or more than 40% with also at least 10 percentage points more than the runner-up. Before the [[1995 Argentine general election|1995 election]], the president and vice-president were both elected by an [[electoral college]].

The [[Argentine National Congress|National Congress]] (''Congreso de la Nación'') has two chambers. The [[Argentine Chamber of Deputies|Chamber of Deputies of the Nation]] (''Cámara de Diputados de la Nación'') has 257 members, elected for a four-year term in each electoral district ([[Provinces of Argentina|23 Provinces]] and the [[Autonomous City of Buenos Aires]]) by [[proportional representation]] using the [[D'Hondt method]], with half of the seats renewed every two years in all districts. The [[Argentine Senate|Senate of the Nation]] (''Senado de la Nación'') has 72 members, elected for a six-year term in three-seat [[constituency|constituencies]] (23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires) for a six-year term, with two seats awarded to the largest party or coalition and one seat to the second largest party or coalition. One-third of the constituencies are renewed every two years. [[2001 Argentine legislative election|In 2001]] the whole senate was renewed. A gender parity law, adopted in 2017, mandates that [[party lists]] must alternate between male and female candidates.

==History==
[[File:Votantes-1924.jpg|thumb|Voters casting their ballots in the [[1924 Argentine legislative election|1924 legislative election]].]]
[[Universal suffrage|Universal]], [[Secret suffrage|secret]] and [[Compulsory voting|compulsory]] voting for male Argentine citizens, either natural-born or naturalized, was guaranteed by the 1912 [[Sáenz Peña Law]], named after President [[Roque Sáenz Peña]]. The first free elections under the Sáenz Peña regime were held in [[1916 Argentine general election|1916]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.conicet.gov.ar/la-ley-saenz-pena-y-la-fragil-transicion-hacia-la-argentina-democratica/|work=[[CONICET]]|title=La Ley Sáenz Peña y la frágil transición hacia la Argentina democrática|date=1 April 2016|access-date=20 July 2021|language=es}}</ref> Women did not have the [[Women's suffrage|right to vote]] in Argentina until 1947, when Law 13.010 ("on political rights for women") was sanctioned during the government of [[Juan Domingo Perón]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/bitstream/handle/11336/3685/CONICET_Digital_Nro.4852_A.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y|title=Participación política y luchas por el sufragio femenino en Argentina (1900-1947)|last=Barrancos|first=Dora|date=2014|journal=Cuadernos Intercambio sobre Centroamérica y el Caribe|volume=11|number=11|pages=15–27|language=es|issn=1659-4940}}</ref> Women first voted in a national election in [[1951 Argentine general election|1951]].

Throughout the 20th century, voting was suppressed by Argentina's numerous dictatorial regimes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/viva/costo-argentinos-votar-libremente_0_hAGk7TvX.html|work=[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarín]]|title=Todo lo que nos costó a los argentinos votar libremente|last=Pigna|first=Felipe|author-link=Felipe Pigna|date=27 October 2019|access-date=20 July 2021|language=es}}</ref> The dictatorships of [[José Félix Uriburu]] (1930–1932) and the so-called ''[[Revolución Libertadora]]'' and ''[[Revolución Argentina]]'', as well as the [[National Reorganization Process|last military dictatorship]] (1976–1983), all suppressed voting altogether. In addition, electoral fraud was widespread under the successive governments of the so-called ''[[Infamous Decade]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.educ.ar/recursos/14737/la-decada-infame-y-el-fraude-patriotico|website=educ.ar|title=La "década infame" y el "fraude patriótico"|date=16 August 2011|access-date=20 July 2021|language=es}}</ref> Since the return of democracy in [[1983 Argentine general election|1983]], Argentine elections have been generally deemed as free, fair and transparent,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/argentina/freedom-world/2020|work=[[Freedom House]]|title=Argentina: Freedom in the World 2020 Country Report|access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> and participation levels remain high, with an average of 70.24% as of 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/11/|work=[[International Foundation for Electoral Systems|IFES Election Guide]]|title=Argentine Republic|access-date=20 July 2021|language=es}}</ref>

In 2012, Law 26.774 ("on Argentine Citizenship") lowered the legal [[voting age]] for Argentine citizens from 18 to 16, making Argentina one of twelve countries in the world to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cippec.org/publicacion/espiritu-adolescente-el-voto-joven-en-argentina/|work=CIPPEC|title=Espíritu adolescente: El voto joven en Argentina|last=Torre|first=Iván|date=March 2016|access-date=20 July 2021|language=es}}</ref>

==Eligibility to vote==
[[File:Escuela de educación técnica Nº 4 (3670070542).jpg|thumb|Voters queue outside a public school in [[Buenos Aires]] during the [[2009 Argentine legislative election|2009 legislative election]].]]
The right to vote is mandated in Article 37 of the [[Constitution of Argentina]], and further detailed in the National Electoral Code.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/justicia/derechofacil/leysimple/voto|website=argentina.gob.ar|title=Ley simple: Voto|language=es|access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> In the national order, entitlement to vote is based on citizenship. Natural-born Argentine citizens and citizens by descent aged 16 or older have the right to vote, while naturalized citizens may vote from the age of 18 (see [[Argentine nationality law]]). Non-citizen permanent residents do not have the right to vote for national offices, but may be allowed to vote for local office as established by [[Provinces of Argentina|provincial law]]. The right to vote is not extended to:
*the mentally unfit (as demonstrated in trial), 
*those who have been convicted of crimes with [[Intent (law)|intent]], 
*those who have been convicted of illegal gambling (for three years only, and for six years in cases of [[recidivism]]), 
*those who have been sanctioned for qualified [[desertion]],
*those who have been declared to be rebels in a criminal cause, until the cessation of said rebellion, or until prescription,
*those who are limited by the dispositions on the Organic Law on Political Parties,
*those who have otherwise been declared unable to exercise their political rights.

All Argentine citizens are automatically registered to vote in the national [[electoral roll]], which is updated on a bi-yearly basis ahead of every scheduled election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/servicios/voto-consulta-aca-padron-electoral-provisorio-elecciones-2021_0_StrDZFhml.html|work=[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarín]]|title=Dónde voto: consultá el padrón electoral provisorio para las Elecciones 2021|last=Grosz|first=Martín|date=7 May 2021|access-date=20 July 2021|language=es}}</ref> From the ages of 18 to 70, [[Compulsory voting|voting is compulsory]]. Eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 70 may by exempt from voting if they are:
*sitting judges and their auxiliaries who must remain in their offices for the duration of the electoral act,
*over 500 kilometers away from their designated voting place, and can justify that distance with reason through a certificate written by their closest police authority,
*ill or otherwise unable, with sufficient proof, as demonstrated by a doctor in the national, provincial, or municipal health services, or by private doctors if all the aforementioned are not available.

Argentine citizens living abroad may vote in embassies and consulates of Argentina.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cronista.com/economia-politica/elecciones-2021-los-argentinos-residentes-en-el-exterior-ya-no-podran-votar-por-correo-postal/|work=[[Perfil]]|title=Los argentinos residentes en el exterior ya no podrán votar por correo postal|date=23 March 2021|access-date=20 July 2021|language=es}}</ref>

==Provincial elections==
Provincial law and constitutions, controlled by [[List of provincial legislatures in Argentina|provincial legislatures]] regulate elections at the provincial level and local level. Since the separation of powers applies to provinces as well as the federal government, provincial legislatures and the executive (the governor) are elected separately. [[List of provincial governors in Argentina|Governors]] are elected in all provinces.

All members of provincial legislatures and territorial jurisdiction legislature are elected.

As a matter of convenience and cost-saving, elections for many of these provincial and local offices are held at the same time as the federal presidential elections. There is a handful of provinces, however, that instead hold their elections separately.

==Schedule==
[[File:Sobre para votar en las elecciones generales de Argentina de 2015.jpg|thumbnail|right|Envelope to cast votes in during the [[2015 Argentine general election|general elections of 2015]].]]

===Election===
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Position !! 2019 !! 2020 !! 2021 !! 2022 !! 2023
|-
!Type
| [[Primary elections in Argentina|Open Primaries]]<ref group="note">Simultaneous open primaries for all national candidatures, mandatory for every political party</ref> (August)<br /> '''Presidential''' (October)<br />'''National Senate''' (October)<br />'''Chamber of Deputies''' (October)<br />'''Provincial''' (March–October)<br />'''Municipalities''' (March–October) ||'''Municipalities'''<br />(''no data'') ||Open Primaries (August)<br />'''National Senate''' (October)<br />'''Chamber of Deputies''' (October)<br />'''Provincial''' (''TBA'')<br />'''Municipalities''' (''TBA'')||'''Municipalities'''<br />(''no data'') ||Open Primaries (August)<br /> '''Presidential''' (October)<br />'''National Senate''' (October)<br />'''Chamber of Deputies''' (October)<br />'''Provincial''' (March–October)<br />'''Municipalities''' (March–October)
|-
![[President of Argentina|President]] and<br /> [[Vice President of Argentina|Vice-president]]
|President and Vice-president||colspan=3|''None'' ||President and Vice-president
|-
![[Argentine Senate|National Senate]]
|Third<ref group="note">The following eight provinces renew all its three senators: [[Buenos Aires Province]], [[Formosa Province|Formosa]], [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]], [[La Rioja Province, Argentina|La Rioja]], [[Misiones Province|Misiones]], [[San Juan Province, Argentina|San Juan]], [[San Luis Province|San Luis]], [[Santa Cruz Province, Argentina|Santa Cruz]]</ref> || ''None'' || Third<ref group="note">The following eight provinces renew all its three senators:[[Buenos Aires|Autonomous City of Buenos Aires]], [[Chaco Province|Chaco]], [[Entre Ríos Province|Entre Ríos]], [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]], [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]], [[Salta Province|Salta]], [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]] and [[Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina|Tierra del Fuego]]</ref>  || ''None'' || Third<ref group="note">The following eight provinces renew all its three senators: [[Catamarca Province|Catamarca]], [[Chubut Province|Chubut]], [[Córdoba Province, Argentina|Córdoba]], [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]], [[La Pampa Province|La Pampa]], [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]], [[Santa Fe Province, Argentina|Santa Fe]] and [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]]</ref> 
|-
![[Argentine Chamber of Deputies|Chamber of Deputies]]
|Half<ref group="note">All 23 provinces and the [[Buenos Aires|Autonomous City of Buenos Aires]] renew half its deputies</ref> || ''None'' || Half || ''None'' || Half
|-
![[Provinces of Argentina|Provincial]]<br />([[Governors of Argentina|Governors]] and Legislatures)
|22 Provinces (G)<ref group="note">All Provinces and the [[Buenos Aires|Autonomous City of Buenos Aires]] except for [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]] and [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]</ref> <br /> 23 Provinces (L)<ref group="note">All Provinces and the [[Buenos Aires|Autonomous City of Buenos Aires]] except for [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]</ref>|| ''None'' || 2 Provinces (G)<ref group="note">[[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]] and [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]</ref><br />13 Provinces (L)<ref group="note">[[Buenos Aires|Autonomous City of Buenos Aires]], [[Buenos Aires Province]], [[Catamarca Province|Catamarca]], [[Chaco Province|Chaco]], [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]], [[Formosa Province|Formosa]], [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]], [[La Rioja Province, Argentina|La Rioja]], [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]], [[Misiones Province|Misiones]], [[Salta Province|Salta]], [[San Luis Province|San Luis]] and [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]</ref> || ''None'' || 22 Provinces (G)<ref group="note">All Provinces and the [[Buenos Aires|Autonomous City of Buenos Aires]] except for [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]] and [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]</ref> <br />23 Provinces (L)<ref group="note">All Provinces and the [[Buenos Aires|Autonomous City of Buenos Aires]] except for [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]</ref>
|-
![[Municipalities of Argentina|Municipalities]]<br />(Mayors and Councils)
| ''no data'' || ''no data'' || ''no data'' || ''no data'' || ''no data''
|}

===Inauguration===
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Position !! 2019 !! 2020 !! 2021 !! 2022 !! 2023 
|-
!Type
| Presidential (December)<br />National Senate<br />Chamber of Deputies<br />Provincial<br />Municipalities||Municipalities||National Senate<br />Chamber of Deputies<br />Provincial<br />Municipalities || Municipalities || Presidential<br />National Senate <br />Chamber of Deputies <br />Provincial<br />Municipalities
|-
!President and<br />Vice-president
|10 December||colspan=3|''None'' || 10 December
|-
!National Senate
|10 December  || ''None'' || 10 December || ''None'' ||10 December
|-
!Chamber of Deputies
|10 December  || ''None'' || 10 December || ''None'' ||10 December
|-
!Provinces (Governors and Legislatures)
| December  || ''None'' || December || ''None'' || December
|-
!Municipalities (Mayors and Councils)
| ''no data'' || ''no data'' || ''no data'' || ''no data'' || ''no data''
|}

==Latest elections==
{{main|2023 Argentine general election}}

The ruling "Union for the Homeland" coalition lost to the "La Libertad Avanza" alliance in the second round presidential elections by 55.69% vs 44.31%.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-17 |title=Argentina Presidential Election Live Results 2023 |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-argentina-election/ |access-date=2023-11-20}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Political parties in Argentina]]
* [[Electoral calendar]]
* [[Electoral system]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/15000-19999/19442/texact.htm National Electoral Code] (in Spanish)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050204225640/http://www.towsa.com/andy/index.html Election Atlas of Argentina from 1983]
*[http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/argentina/ Adam Carr's Election Archive]
*[http://weblogs.elearning.ubc.ca/argentina/ Argentina Elections 2007]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071022075025/http://argentinaelections.com/2007/10/argentina_elections_101.php Argentina Elections 101]

{{Argentine elections}}
{{South America in topic|Elections in}}
{{Argentina topics}}

[[Category:Elections in Argentina| ]]