Elections in Argentina

. Universal, secret and compulsory voting for male Argentine citizens, either natural-born or naturalized, was guaranteed by the 1912 Sáenz Peña Law, named after President Roque Sáenz Peña. The first free elections under the Sáenz Peña regime were held in 1916. Women did not have the right to vote in Argentina until 1947, when Law 13.010 ("on political rights for women") was sanctioned during the government of Juan Domingo Perón. Women first voted in a national election in 1951. Throughout the 20th century, voting was suppressed by Argentina's numerous dictatorial regimes. The dictatorships of José Félix Uriburu (1930–1932) and the so-called Revolución Libertadora and Revolución Argentina, as well as the last military dictatorship (1976–1983), all suppressed voting altogether. In addition, electoral fraud was widespread under the successive governments of the so-called Infamous Decade. Since the return of democracy in 1983, Argentine elections have been generally deemed as free, fair and transparent, and participation levels remain high, with an average of 70.24% as of 2019. In 2012, Law 26.774 ("on Argentine Citizenship") lowered the legal voting age for Argentine citizens from 18 to 16, making Argentina one of twelve countries in the world to do so. ==Eligibility to vote==

during the 2009 legislative election. The right to vote is mandated in Article 37 of the Constitution of Argentina, and further detailed in the National Electoral Code. In the national order, entitlement to vote is based on citizenship. Natural-born Argentine citizens and citizens by descent aged 16 or older have the right to vote, while naturalized citizens may vote from the age of 18 (see Argentine nationality law). Non-citizen permanent residents do not have the right to vote for national offices, but may be allowed to vote for local office as established by provincial law. The right to vote is not extended to: • the mentally unfit (as demonstrated in trial), • those who have been convicted of crimes with intent, • those who have been convicted of illegal gambling (for three years only, and for six years in cases of recidivism), • those who have been sanctioned for qualified desertion, • those who have been declared to be rebels in a criminal cause, until the cessation of said rebellion, or until prescription, • those who are limited by the dispositions on the Organic Law on Political Parties, • those who have otherwise been declared unable to exercise their political rights. All Argentine citizens are automatically registered to vote in the national electoral roll, which is updated on a bi-yearly basis ahead of every scheduled election. From the ages of 18 to 70, voting is compulsory. Eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 70 may by exempt from voting if they are: • sitting judges and their auxiliaries who must remain in their offices for the duration of the electoral act, • over 500 kilometers away from their designated voting place, and can justify that distance with reason through a certificate written by their closest police authority, • ill or otherwise unable, with sufficient proof, as demonstrated by a doctor in the national, provincial, or municipal health services, or by private doctors if all the aforementioned are not available. Argentine citizens living abroad may vote in embassies and consulates of Argentina. ==Provincial elections==

Provincial law and constitutions, controlled by provincial legislatures regulate elections at the provincial level and local level. Since the separation of powers applies to provinces as well as the federal government, provincial legislatures and the executive (the governor) are elected separately. Governors are elected in all provinces. All members of provincial legislatures and territorial jurisdiction legislature are elected. As a matter of convenience and cost-saving, elections for many of these provincial and local offices are held at the same time as the federal presidential elections. There is a handful of provinces, however, that instead hold their elections separately. ==Schedule==

. Election Inauguration ==Latest elections==

The ruling "Union for the Homeland" coalition lost to the "La Libertad Avanza" alliance in the second round presidential elections by 55.69% vs 44.31%. ==See also==