Vote count begins after Colombians cast ballot for Congress and presidential candidates

Описание: (8 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Bogota, Colombia – 8 March 2026
1. Various of closing of polling stations and vote counting
2. SOUNBITE (Spanish) Mateo Medina, voter:
“To the new Congress, well, I demand complete transparency, because it is no secret that the previous Congress, or this outgoing Congress, has been quite corrupt, with corruption scandals involving public entities, and I ask for transparency, I ask that they do not forget about young people.”
3. Various of vote counting
4. SOUNBITE (Spanish) Sandra Toledo, voter:
“Well, with God's grace and with our votes, may it be a Congress that thinks of the people, that thinks of Colombia, and that is very transparent.”
5. Various of vote counting
6. Election observers watching the vote count

STORYLINE:
Polling officials began counting on Sunday after Colombians voted for a new Congress and to select candidates from three major coalitions in a primary-style contest ahead of a presidential election in May.

The election unfolded under high alert for political violence across the South American country, particularly in rural regions dominated by illegal armed groups.

Just hours after polls opened, Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez asserted that a group of at least 2,400 people “allegedly heading to vote” were detected trying to enter Colombia at an illegal border crossing with Venezuela in Norte de Santander, despite announced border closures during the election process.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro described the incident as “large-scale fraud” and an “avalanche of illegal voting” as he called on the mayor of Cucuta to act immediately.

Hours later, the defense minister said authorities had responded and that no people remained in that area.

Petro — the nation’s first left-leaning leader — also has cast doubt on the country’s election software, pointing to the 2022 legislative elections, when his Historic Pact movement gained over 390,000 votes following a recount. He attributed this shift to the presence of election observers.

The registrar general, Hernán Penagos, defended the computer systems and explained that they are subject to international audits as he asked citizens to trust the electoral system.

Sunday’s election is also set to define the political landscape for Colombia’s next head of state.

More than 3,000 candidates are vying for 285 legislative positions — 102 in the Senate and 183 in the House of Representatives.

There are 41.2 million eligible voters.

Petro is ineligible for reelection because the constitution bars a sitting president from running for a consecutive second term.

Presidential hopefuls have long used the primaries to gauge their support before entering the first round of voting.

This strategy proved successful four years ago for Petro, who consolidated his base by winning the left-wing primary alongside Francia Márquez, who became his vice president.

However, the two candidates currently leading in the polls — Iván Cepeda, from Petro’s party, and far-right Abelardo de la Espriella — are not participating in the primaries, which are optional.

AP video by Samuel Sotomayor

===========================================================

Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected].

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...