Bucaramanga voters are heading to teh polls today in a special election necessitated by the annulment of the previous mayoral vote – a decision stemming from legal challenges following the initial election results. This unusual mid-term election will determine a new mayor to serve a two-year term, continuing the city’s current advancement plan after the prior election of Jaime Andrés Beltrán Martínez was definitively annulled by the Council of State. With eight candidates vying for the position, preliminary results are expected as early as 5:00 p.m. local time.
Follow live updates on Vanguardia.com as voters head to the polls in these atypical elections.
Bucaramanga residents are heading to the polls today for a special election to choose a new mayor. The election comes after the previous mayoral election was annulled, leaving the city needing to select a leader to serve a two-year term and continue the existing city plan.
A total of 531,239 voters are eligible to cast ballots at 1,319 polling places set up by the National Registry of Civil Status. This election is unusual, taking place mid-term and interrupting the normal constitutional cycle for the city.
Eight candidates are competing for the mayoralty: Cristian Portilla (backed by the ‘U’ Party, Democratic Center, and Change Radical), Carlos Bueno (Colombia Justa Libres, League of Governing Anti-Corruption, and Mira), Carlos Fernando Pérez (ADA), Juan Manuel González (Democratic Party), Humberto Salazar (Historic Pact), Rubén Morales (Unitary Party), Fabián Oviedo (New Liberalism), and Jhan Carlos Alvernia (Liberal Party).
Analysts suggest voter turnout could be low for several reasons. The election is unprecedented for Bucaramanga, many residents are already on vacation during the December holiday season, and there’s a general sense of apathy surrounding this mid-term vote.
Election officials anticipate a relatively quick count due to the unique circumstances of the election and the potential for lower turnout. Preliminary results could be available as early as 5:00 p.m. local time on Sunday.
The streamlined process – a single ballot and fewer complexities compared to regional, presidential, or legislative elections – is expected to expedite the counting process. This election underscores the challenges of maintaining democratic processes when faced with legal challenges to prior results.
Four years ago, the nearby city of Girón held a similar special election due to issues with candidate dual office-holding. Now, Bucaramanga faces a similar situation after the Administrative Tribunal of Santander and the Fifth Section of the Council of State annulled the election of former Mayor Jaime Andrés Beltrán Martínez.
The re-election process is expected to cost the city more than $18 million.
Cristian Portilla
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Portilla is backed by the ‘U’ Party, Change Radical, and the Democratic Center. He previously served as an advisor to former Mayor Jaime Andrés Beltrán Martínez, who has actively campaigned on his behalf.
Fabián Oviedo
Oviedo is running with the support of the New Liberalism party. He previously served as a city council member and received the third-highest number of votes in the 2023 mayoral election.
Humberto Salazar
A lawyer and university professor, Salazar is the candidate for the Historic Pact, aligning him with the left-wing political movement and President Gustavo Petro.
Juan Manuel González
González, a journalist, has the backing of the Colombian Democratic Party. He previously served as a Senator but resigned shortly after taking office.
Rubén Morales
Morales, a retired judge of 40 years, is entering politics for the first time with the support of the Unitary Party, a left-leaning political group.
Jhan Carlos Alvernia
Alvernia is running with the support of the Liberal Party, hoping to regain control of the Bucaramanga mayoralty. He previously served on the city council as a member of the ‘U’ Party.
Carlos Bueno
Bueno has the backing of the Colombia Justa Libres Party, the League of Governing Anti-Corruption, and Mira. He previously served as the city’s traffic director under former Mayor Juan Carlos Cárdenas and was reappointed by Jaime Andrés Beltrán Martínez.
Carlos Fernando Pérez
Pérez served as the controller of Santander during Mauricio Aguilar Hurtado’s administration. He previously ran for a seat on the Bucaramanga City Council and came close to winning. He is running with the support of the ADA Party.
