On Sunday, Chileans will vote to elect 50 delegates who will be responsible for drafting a new constitution. Last year, a proposed charter was overwhelmingly rejected by voters, who criticized it for being too long and lacking clarity. Many Chileans appear to be disinterested in this latest phase of the process, with nearly 70% of those surveyed saying they had little to no interest in the vote. In part, this is due to a lack of political mobilization from candidates, who have not done much campaigning on the streets. Additionally, many Chileans are focused on bread-and-butter issues, such as public safety, the economic crisis, and healthcare, that they believe will have a more immediate impact on their lives. Despite this lack of interest, the election on Sunday is a critical step towards crafting a new constitution. The elected delegates will receive a preliminary document drafted by 24 experts who were approved by Congress. They are working on 12 constitutional frameworks, including recognition of indigenous peoples, separation of powers, and guaranteeing respect for rights and freedoms. The councilors will have until October to submit their final version of the constitution, which will then be put up for a vote on December 17th. Chile began this process of rewriting its constitution after the country saw student-led street protests in 2019, demanding greater equality and more social protections.
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