At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Chile

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Michelle BACHELET *
• Head of Government: President Michelle BACHELET
• Assembly: Chile has a bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consisting of the Senate (Senado) with 48 seats and the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) with 120 seats.

* The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term.
• In the Senate (Senado), 38 members are elected by popular vote to serve 8-year terms and 10 members are designated *. In the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) 120 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms.**

* One-half of the members in the Senate are elected every four years in a closed-list system. If the majority party obtains more than two-thirds of the valid votes cast, it is entitled to the two seats of the constituency If it obtains less than two-thirds, it is entitled to one seat and the second seat goes to the second-placed party

** Closed party-list majority system. If the majority party obtains more than two-thirds of the valid votes cast, it is entitled to the two seats of the constituency If it obtains less than two-thirds, it is entitled to one seat and the second seat goes to the second-placed party

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Eduardo Frei RUIZ-TAGLE
  • Party: Christian Democrat Party of Chilie / Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Chile
• Sebastian PIÑERA
  • Party: National Renewal / Renovación Nacional (RN)
• Jorge ARRATE
  • Party: Communist Party of Chile / Partido Comunista de Chile)
• Marco ENRIQUEZ-OMINAMI
  • Independent(s): N/A

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 16,601,707 (July 2009 est)
• Registered Voters: 8,285,186 (December 2009 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 8,529,652 (2009)

·         Is Chile a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Chile ratified CEDAW: Yes (7 December 1989)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: No

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 17 (Chamber of Deputies);  (Senate) (following 2009 parliamentary election)

·         Human Development Index Position: 42 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Chile a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Chile ratified CRPD: Yes (29 July 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 2,490,256 (est.)