What changes in the voting process?
1. A single ballot instead of many
Traditionally, in Argentina, each party had its own ballot for each category (Deputies, Senators, etc.). Now, with the Unique Paper Ballot —established by law in October 2024— each voter will receive only one booklet or ballot that contains all the authorized political parties.
On that ballot:
○ The party lists appear in vertical columns.
○ The categories of positions (for example, "National Deputies," "National Senators" where applicable) appear in horizontal rows.
○ The voter must mark ONE option per category.
○ Then the ballot is folded according to instructions to preserve the secrecy of the vote.
2. Advance consultation of the polling place
Before going to vote, the voter can —and should— check their assigned table, table number, and establishment where they are to cast their vote. In the definitive electoral roll published for the elections on October 26, 2025, the National Electoral Chamber (CNE) enabled digital consultation via ID, gender/identity data, district, and verification code.
Available information includes:
○ The assigned educational or official establishment.
○ The table number and order in that roll.
3. It should be noted that the deadline to claim errors or omissions in the roll has already closed for these elections.
4. Procedure on election day
On voting day:
○ The event is scheduled from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
○ Upon arriving at the venue, the ID is shown to the table authority.
○ The unique ballot (the BUP) is received, signed by the table president along with a pen.
○ The voter enters the private booth, marks the desired option, folds the ballot, and deposits it in the ballot box.
5. The most notable change will be that multiple party ballots are no longer handed out in the private booth: everything is on the unique ballot. This aims to streamline the voting process and simplify electoral logistics.
Why was this change introduced?
● Greater transparency and order: By centralizing into a unique ballot, the risk of shortages of ballots, errors in printing, or unequal distribution of party ballots is reduced.
● Facilitating the exercise of the right to vote: With less party paperwork and a unified structure, the aim is for the voting process to be simpler and clearer for all voters.
● Modernization of the electoral roll: By allowing advance consultation of the polling location and table number, predictability for citizens is improved and confusion on election day is reduced.
● Optimized logistics: Fewer different ballots to print, distribute, and count; all this is reflected in the mechanisms adopted for the October 2025 elections.
What should you do as a voter?
● Check your polling place before election day using the digital roll.
● Make sure to bring valid identification (ID or other accepted document) to the polling place.
● Arrive during the established hours (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM) and look for your assigned table.
● When you receive the ballot, mark one option per category and fold it according to the instructions.
● Avoid marking more than one option per category or including foreign objects, as this may invalidate your vote.
● Do not enter the private booth with previously brought ballots, as the ballot to be used will be the official one (the BUP).
● If you find any errors in your assignment or in the roll, check the claim deadlines (which for 2025 have already closed).
What does not change?
● The compulsory nature of voting for most citizens (except as provided by law).
● Your right to choose and the secrecy of the vote — the change aims to reinforce it by simplifying the process.
● The categories of positions being elected: in the October 2025 election, seats in the National Chamber of Deputies and the National Chamber of Senators will be renewed according to each district.
Clarification: differences in the Province of Buenos Aires (PBA)
Although the Unique Paper Ballot (BUP) premieres in national elections in 2025 throughout the country, the Province of Buenos Aires will not use it yet to elect its provincial and municipal authorities.
This means that in Buenos Aires there will be two different voting systems on the same day, depending on what you are voting for:
1. For national positions (national deputies or senators): The Unique Paper Ballot is used, just like in the rest of the country.
You will receive a single ballot with all the national lists, where you mark your preference.
2. For provincial and municipal positions (governor, mayors, councilors, etc.): The traditional party ballot, also known as "lista sábana," is still used.
In this case, each party has its own printed ballot, and the voter chooses a complete one or a short one if they want to combine options (for example, a governor from one party and a mayor from another).
In summary:
In Buenos Aires, the voter will have to use two different systems on the same day:
● Unique Paper Ballot for national positions.
● Traditional party ballot for provincial and municipal positions.
DO YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR?
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