Colombia Migration confirmed that at least 2,200 foreigners will be able to vote across the country in Colombia’s local elections on October 25.
According to figures released by Colombia Migration, 632 Ecuadorians, 325 Venezuelans, 252 Spanish, 228 Peruvians and 129 Germans among others have the power to vote in the upcoming elections in which the governor, mayor, departmental assembly and city council representative are all voted for, as well as local community representatives in large cities.
Thousands of immigrants did not register their identity card correctly and will not be able to vote.
Colombia Migration added that the National Registry had been informed of 960 foreigners who did not meet the requirements once their information was verified and thus will not be able to exercise their right to vote.
“In reality there are currently more than 100,000 identity cards for foreigners in the whole country, but only a little more than 2,200 foreigners signed up and had the valid foreigner identity card, a more than 5 year resident visa, and no problems; the fundamental conditions needed for foreign citizens to vote in the elections,” explained Migration chief Christian Kruger.
According to El Espectador newspaper, it is expected that those foreigners who have registered their documents to vote will be able to exercise their right in 221 municipalities throughout Colombia in the provinces of Valle del Cauca, Cundinamarca and Antioquia. These departments, home to the country’s largest urban centers, are where the highest amount of foreign voter participation has been registered in past elections.
On October 25 around 34 million Colombians are registered to vote for some 18,600 governmental positions across the country.
