Iván Cepeda leads Colombia election results as counting progresses

Iván Cepeda is leading the early vote count in Colombia's 2026 elections, according to the first bulletins released by the Registraduría. As of the fifth bulletin, with 2.67% of the votes counted (3,261 out of 122,020 polling stations), Cepeda-Aida Quilcué held 44.63% of the votes. They are closely followed by Abelardo de la Espriella-José Manuel Restrepo, who have garnered 42.51%.

The Registraduría has published multiple bulletins throughout the day, showing the progression of the count. In the fourth bulletin, with 0.99% of votes tallied, Cepeda-Aida Quilcué led with 47.32%, while Espriella-Restrepo trailed at 40.01%. Earlier bulletins showed even wider leads for Cepeda, with the second bulletin (0.75% counted) showing 68.54% for Cepeda-Aida Quilcué and the first bulletin (0.23% counted) showing 49.9%.

National Registrar Hernán Penagos stated that the electoral process unfolded "with normalcy and full guarantees." He praised the organization and logistics, asserting that the country was once again served with elections that offered complete guarantees. The Registraduría is processing approximately 360,000 tally sheets from over 122,000 polling stations, uploading them to its website.

Beyond the political proceedings, election day also provided an economic opportunity for informal vendors in Bogotá. Minutes after the polls closed, sellers in the northern part of the city were seen promoting their goods, such as ice cream, corn, and obleas. These electoral events often serve as a temporary economic relief for families involved in informal trade.

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Again, we have delivered for the country with the organization of elections with full guarantees for everyone and with impeccable electoral logistics.