General elections were held in Uruguay on 27 October 2024. Since no presidential candidate received a majority in the first round of voting, a runoff took place on 24 November 2024, with Yamandú Orsi of the Broad Front defeating Álvaro Delgado of the Republican Coalition.
The first round of the election also coincided with two constitutional referendums on reforms to the social security system that would lower the retirement age, increase payouts and transfer privately managed savings to a state-run trust, and allowing for nighttime police raids in homes.
Background
Incumbent president Luis Lacalle Pou, who won the 2019 elections, cannot run again as the constitution bars a president from immediate re-election. As a result, the governing National Party has to nominate a new candidate.
Lacalle Pou took office in 2020, heading the Multicolor Coalition, a big tent political alliance formed after October 2019 first round that remains active in the 2024 elections under the name Republican Coalition. His cabinet is composed of leaders from the member parties of the coalition, which holds a majority in both chambers of Parliament, allowing it to push through various legislative initiatives despite the Broad Front opposition.
During the period from 2020 to 2024, the government of Luis Lacalle Pou has faced various controversies and challenges. These have included issues related to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic policies, corruption scandals and social issues such as education reform and security.
Electoral system Voting in Uruguay is compulsory and extends to all citizens aged 18 and over. Those who cannot vote without a valid reason will face a fine or be sanctioned with the inability to carry out various public procedures. According to the Constitution of Uruguay, voting is not only a right of the citizen but above all, it is a duty as a citizen, as well as an obligation.
The President of Uruguay is elected using the two-round system, with a run-off held between the two most-voted candidates if no candidate receives 50% of the vote in the first round. The 30 members of the Senate are elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. The vice president, elected on the same ballot as the president, becomes president of the Senate, with his vote being determinant in case of tie.Electoral system IPU The 99 members of the Chamber of Representatives are elected by proportional representation in 19 multi-member constituencies based on the 19 departments. Seats are allocated using the highest averages method.Electoral system IPU
The elections are held using the double simultaneous vote method, whereby voters cast a single vote for the party of their choice for all three seats of Presidency, Senate and Chamber of Representatives.
Parties and candidates Presidential primaries were held on 30 June 2024 to nominate the presidential candidate for every political party. Fourteen political parties surpassed the minimum of 500 valid votes in the internal elections required by the Electoral Court to participate in the general elections. Of these fourteen, only eleven ultimately participated in these elections (the same number of parties as in the previous elections of 2019, but with different parties).
Below are the parties that surpassed the 2024 primary elections, listed by their results in the 2019 general elections.
Summary PartyIdeology2019 resultStatusFirst round votes (%)ChamberSenateRun-off votes (%)National PartyPartido NacionalConservatismChristian democracy29.70%50.79%Broad FrontFrente AmplioProgressivismDemocratic socialism40.49%49.21%Colorado PartyPartido Colorado Liberalism12.80%Open CabildoCabildo AbiertoNational conservatismRight-wing populism11.46%Intransigent Radical Ecologist PartyPartido Ecologista Radical Intransigente Green liberalism1.43%Independent PartyPartido Independiente Christian humanismChristian democracy1.01%Popular Assembly (PU-WF)Asamblea Popular (UP-FT)CommunismMarxism-Leninism0.90%Green Animalist PartyPartido Verde Animalista Green conservatism0.83%Sovereign IdentityIdentidad Soberana Conspiracy theorismEco-nationalismThird Position colspan="5" Environmental Constitutional PartyPartido Constitucional Ambientalista ConstitutionalismEco-nationalism colspan="5" For Necessary ChangesPor los Cambios Necesarios colspan="5" Republican Advance PartyPartido Avanzar RepublicanoLiberalism colspan="5" Enough is Enough PartyPartido Basta Ya colspan="5" Republican CoalitionRepublican CoalitionBig tent colspan="5"
Candidates in second round Party Candidates First round result Endorsements President Vice president Votes % Broad Front Yamandú Orsib. 1967 Carolina Cosse1,071,826 43.86 National Party Álvaro Delgadob. 1969 Valeria Ripoll655,42626.82Republican CoalitionBlank/null vote
Candidates in first round Parties with parliamentary representation Party Presidential candidate Vice Presidential candidate Name Prior experience Party faction Name Prior experience Party faction National Party Álvaro Delgadob. 1969 VeterinarianSecretary of the Presidency (2020–2023) Valeria RipollUnionistGeneral Secretary of ADEOM (2017–2023)(D Centro) Broad Front Yamandú Orsib. 1967 History teacherIntendant of Canelones (2015–2024)Carolina CosseElectrical EngineerIntendant of Montevideo (2020–2024)(La Amplia) Colorado Party Andrés Ojedab. 1984 Criminal defense lawyerRobert SilvaLawyerPresident of ANEP (2020–2023)(Ciudadanos) Open Cabildo Guido Manini Ríosb. 1958 Retired general officerSenator of the Republic (2020–present)(Todos con Manini)Lorena QuintanaFamily doctorDirector of the program of the MSP (2023–present)(Encuentro Nacional Cristiano) Intransigent Radical Ecologist Party César Vegab. 1962 AgronomistNational Representative for Montevideo (2020–present)(Ecologistas) Sergio BillirisBooksellerN/A(Ecologistas) Independent Party Pablo Mieresb. 1959 LawyerMinister of Labour and Social Welfare (2020–2024)Mónica BotteroJournalistDirector of the National Institute for Women of the MIDES (2020–present)(Crecer)
Parties without parliamentary representation Party Presidential candidate Vice Presidential candidate Name Prior experienceParty faction Name Prior experienceParty faction Popular Assembly Gonzalo Martínezb. 1989 StudentSubstitute National Representative for Montevideo (2015–2020) Andrea RevueltaTeacherUnion member of the ADES (Workers' Party) Sovereign Identity Gustavo Salleb. 1958 Lawyer2019 presidential candidate under the Green Animalist Party(Nosotros Mismos)María Canoniero(N/A)School Teacher(Nosotros Mismos) Environmental Constitutional Party Eduardo Lustb. 1959 Constitutional Law professorNational Representative (2020–present)(Lista 1187)Luján CriadoN/AN/A(Lista 1187) For Necessary Changes Guillermo Franchib. naAgronomist(Lista 2018)Virginia Vaz(N/A)Architect2021 candidate for Director of the BPS representing retirees(Lista 2018) Republican Advance Party Martín Pérez Bancherob. 1976 LawyerNational Director of Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism (2020–2021)(Avanzar)Daniel IsiN/AN/A(Avanzar)
Disqualified before the first round Parties that did not manage to gather the minimum required of 251 delegates in their National Convention before August 31 to approve their presidential ticket. Party Presidential candidate Vice Presidential candidate Name Prior experienceParty faction Name Prior experienceParty faction Green Animalist Party Rita Rodríguezb. naPhilosophy professor Agustín HelalN/AN/A
Withdrew after the primaries Party Presidential candidate Vice Presidential candidate Withdraw Name Prior experienceParty faction Name Prior experienceParty faction Date Reason Enough is Enough Party Jorge Bonicab. 1953(age 70)JournalistDirector of El Bocón newspaper (Basta Ya Uruguay) Not announcedAugust 9Logistical and financial difficulties in carrying out the electoral campaign and convening their National Convention. Republican Coalition Juan Carlos Otormínb. naParliamentary reporter(Lista 3002) Not announcedAugust 18
Defeated in the primary elections Party Name Prior experience Libertarian Party Nelson Petkovichb. naN/A Alternative Homeland Javier Sciutob. naN/A Harmony Party Ruben Martínezb. naN/A Devolución Pablo Paivab. naN/A
Campaign slogans CandidatePartyOriginal sloganEnglish translationRefYamandú OrsiBroad FrontEl frente es amplio"The front is broad"Álvaro DelgadoNational PartyReelegí un buen gobierno"Re-elect a good government"Andrés OjedaColorado PartyEl nuevo presidente"The new president"Guido Manini RíosOpen CabildoA lo seguro"Playing safe"Pablo MieresIndependent PartyDe acá, para arriba"From here, upwards"Gonzalo MartínezPopular AssemblySumate a construir la izquierda que lucha"Join us in building the left that fights"Gustavo SalleIdentidad SoberanaTrinchera de los valores"Bastion of values"Eduardo LustConstitutional Environmentalist PartyTu voz al parlamento"Your voice in Parliament"Martín Pérez BancheroPartido Avanzar RepublicanoPara avanzar hay que cambiar"To move forward, we must change"
Endorsements
Yamandú Orsi was endorsed by former president José Mujica, who rarely made appearances during the campaign due to his treatment against cancer. Following her defeat in the national primaries, pre-candidate Laura Raffo joined the list 40 of the National Party, with Álvaro Delgado. Following the first round, Andrés Ojeda expressed his support for Álvaro Delgado and the National Party.
Opinion polls
Party polling after primaries Polling firm Fieldwork date Sample size FAOrsi PNDelgado PCOjeda CAManini PERIVega PIMieres UPMartínez ISSalle PCALust Others Blank/ LeadGeneral election27 Oct 2024–46.12%28.20%16.89%2.61%0.4%1.8%0.4%2.8%0.5%0.2%4.9%18.1% Opción Consultores17–23 Oct 20241,218 45%24%16%4%1%4%2%4%21%UPC18–22 Oct 202450047%25%16%3%1%4%4%22%Factum16–22 Oct 202490045.5%25.1%15.0%4.1%2.5%0.7%2.9%0.6%3.6%20.4%Equipos Consultores8–22 Oct 20242,32741.4%20.2%16.1%1.6%0.9%2.0%1.9%0.7%11.5%3.7%21.2%Cifra11–20 Oct 20241,00044%23%15%3%2%2%1%2%8%21%MPC Consultores7–11 Oct 20241,20037%20%17%5%1%1%2%1%1%15%17%Factum28 Sep–6 Oct 202490044%24%17%4%3%1%3%1%3%20% Opción Consultores23 Sep–3 Oct 20241,232 42%24%12%3%2%2%1%14%18%UPC27–30 Sep 202450046%24%13%2%1%3%11%22%Cifra13–26 Sep 20241,00144%24%14%2%1%1%1%13%20%Equipos Consultores11–23 Sep 20242,00043%21%15%3%1%1%1%10%5%22%MPC Consultores10–15 Sep 20241,26034%19%15%5%1%1%1%1%1%19%3%15%Factum31 Aug–9 Sep 202490044%27%15%4%3%3%4%17%UPC29 Aug–1 Sep 202450047%24%13%2%1%2%6%5%23%Equipos Consultores14 Aug–1 Sep 20242,00041%22%13%3%1%1%1%13%3%19%Cifra16–27 Aug 20241,00344%28%11%3%1%1%1%11%16% Opción Consultores15–27 Aug 20241,200 43%23%14%4%1%1%1%1%13%20%MPC Consultores1–10 Aug 20241,16033%20%14%7%4%19%3%13%Factum28 Jul–8 Aug 202490044%26%15%5%1%3%1%1%1%3%18%Nómade29 Jul–4 Aug 20241,73046.1%25.3%9.7%1.3%2.6%9.4%5.6%20.8%Equipos Consultores17–30 Jul 20241,20743%22%11%3%1%1%1%15%3%21%Cifra17–28 Jul 20241,00345%27%9%3%1%1%1%13%18% Opción Consultores15–25 Jul 20241,000 42%20%13%4%1%2%1%1%16%22%MPC Consultores10–14 Jul 20241,00033%23%9%7%3%22%3%10%UPC5–9 Jul 202450048%24%11%2%1%3%5%6%24%
Party polling before primaries