The General Elections 2026<\/b> marked significant changes in Peru, not only in terms of the presidential seat and congressional representation but also in the notable decline in absenteeism<\/b>. This marked a substantial improvement compared to the 2021 elections. <\/p>\nReduction in Absenteeism Rates<\/h2>\n
According to the report from the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE<\/b>), the absenteeism percentage decreased to 24% in 2026<\/b>, which is four points lower than in 2021. This suggests a rejuvenation in citizen participation rates, despite ongoing geographical and social gaps that continue to affect voting behaviors. The report indicates, \u201cThe recovery of attendance levels shows a return to the patterns prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\nGeographical Disparities in Voter Participation<\/h2>\n
However, the decline in absenteeism was not uniform across Peru. Regions with challenging geographic and social conditions, such as the Amazon and border provinces, recorded the highest absenteeism rates. <\/p>\n
These statistics reflect the impact of structural challenges such as transportation difficulties, population dispersion, and limited public service presence on electoral participation.<\/p>\n
Conversely, provinces like San Roman (Puno)<\/strong>, Ca\u00f1ete (Lima)<\/strong>, Chincha (Ica)<\/strong>, Arequipa<\/strong>, and Tacna<\/strong> reported much lower absenteeism levels. In San Rom\u00e1n, attendance exceeded 80%, indicating significant civic engagement. The ONPE analysis highlights that the varying realities across regions illustrate the complex nature of electoral behavior in the country.<\/p>\n In Metropolitan Lima<\/b>, absenteeism dropped from 24% in 2021 to 20% in 2026<\/strong>. Nevertheless, this figure varies from district to district:<\/p>\n The ONPE study also emphasizes the importance of establishing voting tables in populated centers, an initiative that has been in place since 2006 aimed at facilitating access for remote communities. In 2026, the presence of voting tables increased to 1,913<\/strong> centers, providing a boost to local participation. This expansion allowed more than 1.1 million voters<\/strong> to cast their ballots close to home, significantly lowering barriers for remote populations.<\/p>\n The participation rate of polling station members also improved significantly. The number of substitutes required per voting table increased from three to six, leading to a participation level of 64.6%<\/strong>. Notably, women exhibited higher levels of participation than men across all constituencies, as highlighted in the ONPE report.<\/p>\nTrends in Metropolitan Lima<\/h2>\n
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Improving Access to Voting<\/h2>\n
Participation of Polling Station Members<\/h2>\n