Micah Jonah, March 9, 2026
Voters in Colombia headed to the polls on Sunday to elect members of Congress, select presidential candidates ahead of the country’s next general election.
About 41.2 million eligible voters are choosing from more than 3,000 candidates contesting 102 seats in the Senate and 182 seats in the House of Representatives.
The vote also includes party primaries to determine presidential candidates representing the country’s major political blocs, including the left, centre-left and right.
The winners of the primaries are expected to contest the presidential election scheduled for May 31.
Some leading political figures, including Ivan Cepeda, Abelardo de la Espriella and Sergio Fajardo, are not participating in the primaries.
Polling stations opened at 8:00am local time and are expected to close at 4:00pm, with security forces deployed across the country amid concerns about possible political violence in some regions.
Pedro Sanchez said authorities detected at least 2,400 people allegedly attempting to enter the country through an illegal crossing along the border with Venezuela despite border restrictions during the election period.
He described the development as a potential electoral offence.
President Gustavo Petro also raised concerns about possible electoral fraud, stating that dozens of buses carrying suspected voters from across the border had been stopped by authorities.
More than 126,000 security personnel were deployed nationwide to maintain order during the voting process.
The election comes amid political tensions, strained relations between Colombia and the United States under President Donald Trump.
President Petro, Colombia’s first left-leaning leader, is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term. Analysts say the outcome of the congressional vote and party primaries could shape the direction of the country’s presidential race in the coming months.
