Peru's presidential election descended into chaos Sunday as logistical failures prevented 63,300 voters from casting ballots, forcing authorities to extend voting into Monday and delaying results in what was already a tightly contested 35-candidate race.
The National Office of Electoral Processes reported that 211 voting stations across 15 polling centers in Lima failed to open after contractor Servicios Generales Galaga failed to deliver ballot papers, computer equipment and other essential materials on time. Some polling sites in the capital opened up to five hours late, creating massive queues and widespread frustration, particularly in Lima's southern districts of San Juan de Miraflores, Lurín and Pachacámac.
Pedimos desde la Oficina Nacional de Procesos Electorales las disculpas del caso por los problemas logísticos presentados
Piero Corvetto, ONPE President — RPP
The National Elections Jury ordered affected polling stations to remain open Monday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time, along with additional voting centers in Orlando, Florida and Paterson, New Jersey for overseas Peruvians. The decision means official results will not be available until at least Tuesday, fueling concerns about transparency in a nation that has cycled through nine presidents in the past decade.
Exit polls released after the original voting deadline showed conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori leading with approximately 16.5% of the vote, followed by a tight four-way battle for the crucial second-place runoff spot. Ipsos polling gave leftist Roberto Sánchez 12.1%, Ricardo Belmont 11.8%, ultraconservative Rafael López Aliaga 11%, and center-right Jorge Nieto 10.7% — all within the margin of error.
Frames the chaos as undermining democratic legitimacy, emphasizing protests and doubts over vote integrity. Highlights Peru's chronic instability as symptomatic of broader regional democratic fragility that concerns European observers.