Understand how the second round of elections in Argentina works

Argentines went to the polls this Sunday (22) to decide the country’s new president. Sergio Massa and Javier Milei were the candidates with the most votes and will compete in the second round of the presidential election.

The second round is provided for by law in Argentina in the Electoral Code in article 148, which establishes that both the president and vice-president will be elected by national vote at least three months before the end of the current head of state’s term.

The second round occurs if no candidate reaches 45% of the valid votes or more than 40% with a difference of 10 percentage points of the total valid votes.

Who is in the second round of the Argentine elections?

The law says that the two candidates “with the most votes in the first round will participate in a possible second round, with the one who obtains the greatest number of validly expressed affirmative votes being elected”. In other words, a simple majority for the second round.

However, it does not end there: after the count, it is established that there is a second round and the candidates with the most votes are proclaimed, they must “ratify in writing” before the National Electoral Board their decision to participate in the second round.

“If one of them does not do so, the other will be proclaimed elected,” says the electoral code.

As established by the electoral code, in the event of the death of one of the two candidates who eventually reach the second round, the party representing the deceased candidate must replace him within the next seven days.

Finally, if the two candidates who go to the second round die, the law establishes new elections.

When will the second round of the Argentine elections be?

The second round of the general elections – also called the second round – is held 30 days after the first round of the general elections, therefore, this year, it is scheduled for November 19th.