The 2026 Regional and Municipal Elections will be held today nationwide to elect a total of 13,148 subnational authorities, including regional governors and deputy governors, regional councilors, provincial and district mayors, as well as provincial and district councilors.
For this election day, polling tables will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to facilitate voting by citizens, the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) reported.
ONPE Chief Bernardo Pachas said polling stations will open at 6:00 a.m. to allow polling-station officials to enter.
In addition, more than 89,000 polling tables are expected to be set up at more than 10,000 voting centers nationwide.
According to ONPE, all voting centers received 100% of the electoral materials last night.
More than 26 million Peruvians are called to vote and will elect a total of 13,148 regional and municipal authorities who will lead the regions, provinces, and districts across the country during the 2027–2030 term.
These authorities include 25 regional governors, 25 deputy governors, and 364 regional councilors, as well as 196 provincial mayors, 1,696 district mayors, and 10,842 provincial and district councilors.
Permanent security
Today's vote will have permanent security provided by the Armed Forces and the National Police, which also guaranteed the deployment of electoral materials throughout the country and are maintaining control of voting centers.
The Ministry of Defense (Mindef) said that, since midnight Saturday, 41,000 Armed Forces personnel have been deployed to provide security at more than 10,000 polling stations authorized for today's Regional and Municipal Elections.
Personnel from the three military branches—the Army, Navy, and Air Force—arrived at their designated locations across the country.
Through the command post of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, Mindef is continuously monitoring the operation and coordinating with the heads of the operational commands throughout the electoral process.
Fines and restrictions in force
Meanwhile, the National Elections Board (JNE) urged citizens to fulfill their civic duty to avoid financial penalties.
Fines for failing to vote are set according to the district's socioeconomic classification.
Thus, voters in districts classified as non-poor will pay a fine of S/110 (about US$32), while those in poor districts will pay S/55 (about US$16) and those in districts classified as extremely poor will pay S/27.50 (about US$8).
Polling-station officials—both regular and alternate members—who fail to attend or refuse to serve at their assigned polling table will be subject to a single fine of S/275 (about US$80).
Additionally, if an assigned polling-station official fails to vote, both penalties will be imposed cumulatively.
Electoral authorities also reminded citizens that the restriction on the sale of alcoholic beverages, known as the "dry law," is in force.
It began at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, and will remain in force until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 5.
(END) HTC/MVB