In Chile, voting tables opened this Sunday, September 4, in most regions from 8:00 a.m. to begin voting on the text of the new constitution.
Latin American multi-state Telesur said polling stations would be open until 6 p.m. local time and the result would be released hours later.
A total of 15,076,690 people are eligible to vote in the country, while 97,239 will do so abroad, according to a report by the Chilean Electoral Service (Servel).
Participation in the consultation to approve or reject the new Magna Carta is mandatory and carries a fine of up to 180,000 Chilean pesos (about $200).
Chilean President Gabriel Boric went with his family to vote in Punta Arenas and told the press that “Today the Chileans are taking part in this historic referendum. We are building a country of unity, regardless of the outcome; We need to move forward on issues like safety, equality, and now is a good start for this referendum.”
Boric trusts “in the wisdom of the people of Chile” and called on citizens to participate and have “trust in the institutions”.
If the new Magna Carta is adopted, the President must summon the entire Congress to proclaim in a public and solemn act and swear or promise to respect and uphold the new Constitution.
Otherwise, the current Magna Carta remains in force in the country.
The new constitutional project that emerged from the Constitutional Convention enshrines a “welfare state of rights” in response to demands expressed during the massive social demonstrations of October 2019.
It also sets out a new catalog of social rights in the areas of health, education and pensions, with a clear focus on the environment and protecting new rights, concluded Telesur.