Peru’s election chief steps down amid frustration over long vote count | Elections News
Peru’s Election Chief Resigns Amid Ongoing Vote Counting and Public Frustration
April 21, 2026
The head of Peru’s election authority resigned Tuesday following widespread dissatisfaction over the handling of the recent general election, during which vote counting remains ongoing.
Piero Corvetto announced his resignation via social media, stepping down from his position as the head of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), the government body responsible for overseeing elections in Peru.
In a letter to the National Board of Justice (JNJ), Corvetto refuted allegations of irregularities raised by some political figures but expressed that his departure aims to restore public confidence ahead of the anticipated second round of presidential voting scheduled for June 7.
The first round, conducted on April 12, was characterized by logistical challenges that resulted in extended voting hours in Lima and other regions. Election monitors acknowledged flaws in the electoral process, although there is no concrete evidence to support claims of fraud.
Peru’s National Jury of Elections (JNE) has stated that the final voting results will be confirmed by May 15, with the top two candidates proceeding to the runoff. As the results stand, right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori leads with approximately 17 percent of the vote, positioning her to advance.
The identity of her opponent remains uncertain, as leftist Congressman Roberto Sanchez and former Lima mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga are in a close contest, garnering roughly 12 percent and 11.9 percent of the votes, respectively.
The tumultuous first round has heightened public discontent with the political system, occurring within a context of ongoing instability and declining trust in government institutions. A recent poll by the Institute for Peruvian Studies (IEP) and the Institute Bartolomé de las Casas (IBC) indicated that about 68 percent of Peruvians expressed limited confidence in the country’s electoral authorities even prior to the election.
Several candidates, including Lopez Aliaga, have voiced unverified accusations of fraud and are advocating for the annulment of the first round of voting. In response, election authorities have begun reviewing thousands of contested ballots due to discrepancies, missing information, or errors in tally sheets.
