Tunja Holds Special Elections Sunday After Mayor's Election Annulled

Tunja, the capital of Boyacá, Colombia, is preparing for atypical elections this Sunday to elect a new mayor. The need for these special elections arose after the Council of State confirmed a ruling by the Boyacá Tribunal on March 20, annulling the election of Mikhail Krasnov. Krasnov had initially won the mayoral race in the general elections held on October 29, 2023, securing 27,730 votes.

The Registraduría has set up 362 polling tables across 26 voting centers for the more than 142,000 eligible citizens. Authorities have implemented temporary public order measures, enforced by the Police and Army, to ensure the elections proceed safely and peacefully. These measures are in effect from Friday evening until Monday, July 27, 2026, at noon.

Eleven candidates, two women and nine men, are vying for the administrative leadership of Tunja. The elected mayor will govern for the next year and a half, completing the 2024-2027 term. The ballot includes candidates from various political parties and movements, such as Colombia Justa Libres, Cambio Radical, Conservative Party, Alianza Democrática Amplia, Partido Ecologista Colombiano, Dignidad y Compromiso, Partido Alianza Social Independiente, Alianza por Tunja, Partido Político Esperanza Democrática, Partido Político Oxígeno, Pacto Histórico, and Partido Político Mira. A "blank vote" option is also available.

Of the 142,847 citizens eligible to vote, 76,976 are women and 65,871 are men. The special election is being conducted based on Decree 0402 issued on May 27, 2026, by the governor of Boyacá, following the annulment of the previous election results.