Elections in Uruguay

Elections in Uruguay encompass three different types: general elections, departamental elections and municipal elections. At the national level, Uruguay elects a head of state (the President) and a legislature (the General Assembly). Voting is compulsory and extends to all citizens aged 18 and over.

The Electoral Court sets standards for and issues guidelines to returning officers and polling station officials, and is responsible for nationwide electoral administration (such as the registration of political parties and directing the administration of elections and national referendums).

Electoral registration
Since voting is compulsory in Uruguay, every Uruguayan citizen upon turning 18 must register in the "National Civic Registry", an electoral roll of citizens with the right to vote, administered by the Electoral Court. After registration, the person obtains the Credencial Cívica, the official document used to cast the vote.

Polling procedure
The voting procedure is detailed in Law No. 7,812 –known as the "Elections Law"–. To cast the vote, Uruguayan citizens must appear before a polling station determined based on the series and number of their registration in the electoral roll.

Having verified the identity of the voter and their inclusion in the electoral roll, the polling station officials give them an envelope to go to the voting booth, known as, and insert the ballot inside, guaranteeing the secrecy of the vote. Once outside the cuarto secreto, the voter places the envelope inside a closed ballot box.

Presidential elections
The president and the vice-president are elected on one ballot for a five-year term by the people.

In Uruguay, a blanket primary election is held in June to elect the national convention of each party, which selects the presidential candidate. All parties must participate, however voting is voluntary unlike the other instances in the electoral process. The most voted presidential pre-candidate is automatically designated if they reach the absolute majority, or a 40% plurarity with a 10% margin over the second most voted candidate. The convention also selects the vice-presidential candidate.

General elections are held in October. If no presidential candidate obtains the absolute majority of votes, there is a runoff between the two most-voted candidates.

Parliamentary elections
The General Assembly (Asamblea General) has two chambers. The Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) has 99 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation with representation from the 19 departments. The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) has 30 members elected for a five-year term by proportional representation at the national level, plus the Vice-president.

After the 2019 elections, seven parties are represented in the Chamber of Deputies and four in the Chamber of Senators.

2019 general election
On 25 November, preliminary results in the runoff election showed Lacalle Pou with a majority (48.71%) by 28,666 votes over Martínez (47.51%), which delayed the announcement of a winner as 35,229 absentee votes needed to be counted. Martínez later conceded defeat on 28 November. On 30 November, final votes counts confirmed Lacalle Pou as the winner with 48.8% of the total votes cast over Martínez with 47.3%.



Local elections

 * 2000 Uruguayan municipal elections
 * 2005 Uruguayan municipal elections
 * 2010 Uruguayan municipal elections
 * 2015 Uruguayan municipal elections
 * 2020 Uruguayan municipal elections
 * 2022 Uruguayan Law of Urgent Consideration referendum

Next elections

 * 2024 Uruguayan general election
 * 2025 Uruguayan municipal elections