Colombians are electing new Congress, choosing presidential candidates

Colombians vote for Congress and presidential candidates amid high political violence alert and election integrity concerns on March 8, 2026.

Colombians head to the polls on Sunday (March 8, 2026) to elect a new Congress and select candidates from three major coalitions in a primary-style contest ahead of a presidential election this May.

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

At the same time, President Gustavo Petro — the nation's first left-leaning leader — 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 European Union deployed 40 election observers in early February and said it intended to increase the size of the delegation for the upcoming congressional vote.

More than 3,000 candidates are vying for 285 legislative positions — 102 in the Senate and 183 in the House of Representatives — with 41.2 million citizens eligible to cast their ballots.

Sunday's (March 8, 2026) election is set to define the political landscape for Colombia's next head of state.