Colombia’s President Santos became one of the first Colombians to exercise his right to vote, when he submitted his ballot at 8AM Sunday morning in Bogota‘s Plaza de Bolivar.
The president, running for re-election against hardline Democratic Center (Centro Democratico) candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, used the opportunity to call on all Colombians to make it to the polls for Sunday’s second round run-off.
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“I am making an invitation to all Colombians who support the country to come out and vote,” he said.
While the ability to submit a secret ballot is pivotal for democracy — protecting voters from any sort of intimidations, threats or external factors that could affect their well-beings and decisions — Santos elected to show his ballot before placing it in the poll box.
“I invite all to vote with our conscience and with tranquillity in defence to democracy” said Santos on social media after voting.
The country will choose today between incumbent President Juan Manuel Santos and hard-line rival Oscar Ivan Zuluaga.
The run-off vote is expected to produce the tightest presidential race in recent history with support polls placing the two candidates neck and neck.
Santos and Zuluaga have split the most recent round of polling, and turnout is expected to be a key factor in determining the contest, after record 60% abstention rates in May 25 first round elections.