Peruvians returned to the polls on Monday for an unprecedented second day of voting after technical problems and logistical failures on Sunday left tens of thousands of citizens unable to cast their ballots in the country's presidential election. The extension, ordered by Peru's electoral authority, comes as a preliminary count put conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori slightly ahead, though the race for a likely second-round runoff remains highly fluid, as reported by multiple outlets including the BBC and The Guardian.
Election delays and the extension
Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) announced Sunday evening that it would extend voting by one day after problems with voting machines, delivery failures and defective ballots forced polling stations to open late or, in some cases, not at all. The electoral body said the extension would allow more than 52,000 residents of Lima's capital district to vote on Monday, though other outlets have put the figure at 63,300—the discrepancy has not been officially reconciled.
The extension also covers Peruvian citizens registered to vote in Orlando, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey, where similar logistical problems were reported. Authorities have said no official first-round result will be available until after the additional voting concludes, according to France 24.
A crowded and polarized field
The election has been described by multiple outlets as taking place during a period of intense political instability in Peru, a country that has seen nine presidents in as many years, six of them removed through impeachment or resignation in the last decade. The incumbent, José María Balcázar, who has been in office only since February, chose not to run.
A former minister, a comedian and a political heiress are among the 35 candidates vying to become Peru's president—the largest field in the Andean country's history. The top contenders so far include Keiko Fujimori, the four-time presidential candidate and daughter of former autocrat Alberto Fujimori; Rafael López Aliaga, the conservative former mayor of Lima; and several independents and fringe contenders.\n## Key claims
- Delay in results: Preliminary counts of roughly half of the votes already cast put Keiko Fujimori slightly ahead of López Aliaga, but no candidate is near the 50% threshold required to win outright, making a 7 June runoff nearly certain, the BBC reported.
- Voter impact: More than 52,000 voters in Lima were granted an extension, with additional extensions for Peruvian voters in Orlando and Paterson, according to multiple reports.
- Mandatory voting: Voting is mandatory for Peruvians aged 18 to 70, with a fine of up to $32 for those who fail to participate, a rule that has been in place since 1980.
A backdrop of discontent
Sunday's election was held against a backdrop of widespread publicanger over rising violent crime and corruption. Voter surveys suggest a deep distrust of political institutions and candidates, with many Peruvians telling pollsters they view all politicians with suspicion.
The election is the first since the death of former president Alberto Fujimori in September 2024, and the race is being watched closely by international investors and regional policymakers seeking clues about Peru's future political direction.
Extracts from interviews with voters outside polling stations in Lima, published by France 24 on Monday, captured a sense of resignation mixed with hope. "There's so much crime, so many robberies on every corner; a bus driver was killed," nurse Heidy Justiniano, 33, told the outlet while waiting in line. "What matters most to us right now is safety, the lives of every person."
No president in Peru has completed a full term since Ollanta Humala, who left office in 2016. The winner of this election will inherit an economy that has been among the most volatile in Latin America, with widespread informal employment and a population deeply skeptical of government promises, two issues that have defined the campaign.