Peru is preparing for a democratic exercise of unprecedented scale and complexity, one that the head of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) describes as the most difficult electoral process in the country’s history. Piero Corvetto, who has been ratified in his position until 2028, warns that the sheer volume of candidates and the structural nature of the upcoming vote on April 12 create a logistical challenge without prior precedent.
The 2026 general elections will see voters face five simultaneous contests—an increase from the three typically seen in previous cycles. With more than 30 candidates and a ballot described as the largest in Peruvian history, the process is strained by a system that allows up to seven preferential votes and as many as 12 distinct marks on a single ballot. Despite these hurdles, Corvetto maintains that the institutional machinery is ready to ensure a successful outcome.
For Corvetto, this cycle represents a potential tipping point for how Peru handles its democracy. While he expresses confidence in the current preparation, he has called for a profound reflection on electoral rules over the next five years to prevent future elections from becoming similarly cumbersome for voters and poll workers alike.
The Logistics of a ‘Giant’ Ballot
The primary driver of the current complexity is the physical and conceptual design of the voting process. The inclusion of a high number of political organizations and the retention of the preferential vote—where citizens can choose specific candidates within a party list—has resulted in a ballot that is both physically expansive and mentally taxing for the electorate.
Corvetto has been vocal about the demand to eliminate the preferential vote in future cycles. He argues that the practice creates internal competition within parties that weakens the organizations and complicates the counting process. In his view, preferential voting should be relegated to internal party primaries to define list orders before the general public ever sees the ballot.
Lima, 9 de abril_{2026}. Entrevista al jefe de la ONPE, Piero Corvetto. (Foto: Hugo Pérez / GEC)
/ HUGO PEREZ
Beyond the ballot itself, Corvetto suggests that polling stations should be staffed exclusively by young people to bring more dynamism to a day that requires extreme endurance. Members of the table are expected to arrive at 6 a.m., open polls at 7 a.m., and potentially remain on-site for six to eight hours after the 5 p.m. Closing time to finalize the count.
Addressing the Voter Knowledge Gap
A significant concern looming over the April 12 date is the level of voter preparedness. Data from a Datum poll conducted in late March indicated that eight out of ten Peruvians admitted they did not know how to navigate the “giant” ballot. In Lima, this figure reportedly climbed to nearly 90%.
Corvetto disputes the notion that the ONPE‘s education strategy has failed. He points to a record 450,000 Peruvians who have undergone training as poll workers and the establishment of 126 offices across all districts and 1,910 population centers. While, he acknowledges that national crises have often distracted citizens from electoral education.
The agency is working to minimize “null” or “spoiled” votes caused by ignorance, though Corvetto notes that voting null can as well be a conscious political statement. The goal is to ensure that anyone who genuinely wishes to choose a candidate has the tools to do so correctly.
Safeguards Against Fraud Allegations
The shadow of the 2021 electoral crisis, characterized by widespread narratives of fraud, has led to concrete operational changes. One of the most significant reforms is the decision to preserve physical ballots, a practice that Peru and Panama had previously avoided in the Americas.
According to Corvetto, the retention of these ballots provides a critical layer of integrity, allowing the Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) to conduct recounts if disputes arise. The chain of custody for these materials is coordinated with the National Police and the Armed Forces.
To further increase transparency, the ONPE has implemented several technological upgrades:
- Trazability: All transport trucks are equipped with GPS, and electoral acts now feature QR codes for real-time tracking.
- Verification: Radio frequency lines are used during the assembly of ballot boxes to ensure all required materials are present.
- Infrastructure: 126 computing centers have been deployed to accelerate data processing.
Lima, 9 de abril_{2026}. Entrevista al jefe de la ONPE, Piero Corvetto. (Foto: Hugo Pérez / GEC)
/ HUGO PEREZ
The Voting Rights Controversy
Despite the institutional readiness, a significant legal and operational failure has emerged regarding the voting rights of deployed security forces. Under Law No. 32166, members of the Armed Forces and National Police who are stationed away from their home districts are entitled to vote in their current location.
However, Corvetto revealed that the ONPE did not receive the necessary personnel lists in time to organize these special voting arrangements. While he attributed this to administrative difficulties within the security forces rather than malice, the result is that many deployed personnel may be unable to exercise their right to vote. The ONPE maintains that it fulfilled its legal obligations by requesting the data and expanding the number of available polling stations, but the lists were never delivered.
Timeline for Results
For the first time in history, the ONPE will open its results website exactly at 5 p.m. On April 12, coinciding with the closing of the polls. The agency expects a staggered arrival of data, beginning with overseas votes and followed by the domestic count.
| Time (Approx.) | Data Source | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 5:00 PM | Foreign/Cancillería | Initial overseas results published |
| 7:30 PM | Lima and Callao | Major urban center data begins to enter |
| 8:30 PM | Rest of Peru | National regional data integration |
| 12:00 AM | Total Processed | Goal of 60% of presidential acts processed |
Regarding political tensions, Corvetto addressed public accusations of fraud and personal insults from candidates, such as Rafael López Aliaga. He stated that such claims do not distract the agency from its mission and invoked the “values of democracy,” comparing an election to a football match: one must accept the result and congratulate the winner regardless of the outcome.
Lima, 9 de abril_{2026}. Entrevista al jefe de la ONPE, Piero Corvetto. (Foto: Hugo Pérez / GEC)
/ HUGO PEREZ
The final stage of the process involves the deployment of material. With 250 trucks departing from Lurín for Lima and Callao starting Friday at 10 p.m., and fluvial transport already moving material into the Ucayali region, the ONPE is in the final countdown to the opening of polls at 7 a.m. On Sunday.
The next critical checkpoint will be the official opening of the results portal at 5 p.m. On April 12, which will serve as the first real-time indicator of the electoral will of the Peruvian people.
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