Colombia began the official vote count for the second round of its 2026 presidential election on Sunday, May 31 [3].

The runoff determines the next leader of the nation after no candidate secured an absolute majority during the first round of voting. This final stage of the electoral process pits candidates Iván Cepeda and Abelardo de la Espriella against one another to decide the presidency.

The process officially commenced at 8 a.m. [2] local time. An opening ceremony was held at the Plaza de Bolívar in Bogotá [4] to mark the start of the tally. Registrar Hernán Penagos and President Gustavo Petro were among the figures associated with the proceedings as the nation moved to finalize its leadership transition.

According to official data, there are 41,421,973 citizens eligible to vote [1] in the election. Voting centers across the country were utilized to collect ballots before the centralized count began in the capital. The transition to the second round follows a period of intense campaigning as both candidates sought to consolidate support from the fragmented first-round electorate.

While most reports confirm the May 31 event as the second-round count, some initial reports differed on whether the date marked the first or second stage of the presidential contest. However, the official proceedings in Bogotá focused on the runoff between Cepeda and de la Espriella.

The count is being monitored to ensure transparency in a high-stakes political environment. The results will determine the direction of Colombian policy for the next term, shifting the balance of power depending on whether the victory goes to Cepeda or de la Espriella.

“Colombia began the official vote count for the second round of its 2026 presidential election.”

The move to a runoff election indicates a deeply divided electorate where no single ideological platform commanded a majority. The outcome of this count will decide whether Colombia continues with the current administration's trajectory or pivots toward the platform offered by the opposing candidate, potentially altering the country's domestic and foreign policy.