Chileans voted Sunday in a presidential and parliamentary election dominated by public fears over rising organized crime and irregular migration, with the race expected to tilt toward the right.

None of the eight presidential contenders is forecast to cross the 50% threshold needed to avoid a Dec. 14 runoff, but polls show Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara, 51, and far-right former lawmaker José Antonio Kast, 59, leading the field.

Despite their ideological gulf, both have campaigned heavily on promises to combat foreign criminal gangs, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, blamed for surging kidnappings, extortion and trafficking.

Analysts say both candidates have moderated their platforms to appeal to centrist voters unsettled by rising insecurity. “They’re vying for the center,” said political scientist Rodolfo Disi.

Trailing behind are libertarian congressman Johannes Kaiser, 49, and veteran center-right politician Evelyn Matthei, 72.

This election is Chile’s first with mandatory voting in a presidential race, adding roughly 4 million people who had never previously cast ballots. Analysts say the impact of compulsory turnout remains uncertain.

Chile is also electing its entire lower house and part of the Senate. Of 15.7 million eligible voters, more than 800,000 are immigrants with residency; although exempt from mandatory voting, many have historically favored right-wing candidates.

Crime concerns have overshadowed economic debates in a country struggling with high living costs, sluggish growth and an influx of migrants. Kast has pledged deep spending cuts and tighter borders, while Jara has focused on infrastructure investment and a “living” minimum income.

All major candidates back tougher immigration measures, though proposals range from border walls to expanded deportations.

The vote marks a stark shift from Chile’s 2021 election, when voters swept leftist President Gabriel Boric into office on promises of social change.