The winner will lead Colombia until 2026
En una jornada que marcaría el rumbo de Colombia hasta 2026, los ciudadanos acudieron a las urnas el 19 de junio de 2022 para elegir entre dos visiones opuestas del país: la del izquierdista Gustavo Petro, quien llegaba con ventaja tras la primera vuelta, y la del independiente Rodolfo Hernández. Como ocurre en todo momento de elección colectiva, el resultado no sería solo un número, sino el reflejo de las esperanzas, los miedos y las tensiones acumuladas de una nación en búsqueda de su propio camino.
- Con 8,5 millones de votos en la primera vuelta frente a los 6 millones de Hernández, Petro llega con ventaja, pero en una contienda de dos candidatos, ninguna distancia es definitiva.
- Millones de colombianos debían ubicar su puesto de votación en más de 510 mesas distribuidas por 25 ciudades, con herramientas digitales y físicas dispuestas para facilitar el acceso.
- La Registraduría advirtió con firmeza: filtrar resultados antes del anuncio oficial constituye un delito electoral con consecuencias penales reales.
- El conteo comenzaría de inmediato al cierre de urnas a las 4:00 p.m., con el país en vilo esperando saber quién gobernaría una nación marcada por presiones económicas, desafíos de seguridad y divisiones políticas profundas.
El domingo 19 de junio de 2022, Colombia celebró la segunda vuelta de sus elecciones presidenciales. Los dos candidatos que superaron la primera ronda fueron Gustavo Petro, con 8,5 millones de votos, y Rodolfo Hernández, con 6 millones. El ganador gobernaría el país hasta 2026.
Las urnas abrieron a las 8:00 de la mañana y cerraron a las 4:00 de la tarde. Cualquier ciudadano colombiano podía votar presentando su cédula física o digital. Al cierre, el escrutinio de mesa comenzaba de inmediato en cada puesto de votación, y los resultados oficiales solo se anunciarían una vez contabilizados todos los votos a nivel nacional. Divulgar resultados antes de ese momento era considerado un delito electoral.
Para orientar a los votantes, la Registraduría habilitó más de 510 puestos de votación en 25 ciudades, con más de 2.300 dispositivos de consulta. A través del sitio web de la entidad o de la aplicación gratuita InfoVotantes —disponible en Android e iOS—, cualquier ciudadano podía ingresar su número de cédula y conocer su lugar de votación, cabina asignada y número de mesa. La misma plataforma permitía verificar si alguien había sido designado como jurado de votación.
Aunque Petro había obtenido cerca del 58% de los votos en la primera vuelta frente al 42% de Hernández, la naturaleza de una contienda directa abría la posibilidad de que el ingeniero santandereano consolidara el apoyo de quienes habían respaldado a otros candidatos. Para los colombianos que ese domingo se dirigían a las urnas, la elección representaba mucho más que un nombre en una papeleta: era una decisión sobre el tipo de país que querían construir.
Colombia was voting on Sunday, June 19, 2022, to choose its next president. Two candidates had made it through the first round: Gustavo Petro, who had captured 8.5 million votes in that initial contest, and Rodolfo Hernández, who finished second with 6 million. One of them would lead the country for the next four years, until 2026.
The mechanics of the day were straightforward but consequential. Polls would open at 8:00 in the morning and close at 4:00 in the afternoon. Any Colombian citizen could vote with either a physical or digital national ID card. Once the polls shut down, the counting would begin immediately at each voting station—a process called escrutinio de mesa. The results would be announced only after all ballots across the country had been tallied. Leaking results before the official announcement was a criminal offense that could bring serious penalties.
For voters unsure where to cast their ballot, the government had set up a system to help them find their polling place. The Registraduría, Colombia's electoral authority, had established more than 510 voting stations across 25 cities. Each station would have over 2,300 devices where citizens could look up their assigned location, polling booth number, address, zone, and table assignment. Voters could use either the InfoVotantes mobile app or the Registraduría's website to find this information by entering their ID number.
The process for checking your polling location was simple. Go to the Registraduría website, select the option to consult your voting place, enter your national ID number, confirm you were not a robot, and the system would display all the details. The same information was available through the free InfoVotantes app, downloadable on both Android and iOS.
Citizens also had the ability to check whether they had been assigned as a voting official—a jurado de votación—responsible for helping administer the election at their assigned station. This information was available on the same Registraduría website and through the InfoVotantes app.
Petro's first-round lead was substantial but not insurmountable in a two-person race. He had won with roughly 58 percent of the vote to Hernández's 42 percent. The runoff would determine whether that advantage would hold or whether Hernández could consolidate support among voters who had backed other candidates in the first round. The stakes were clear: the winner would inherit a country facing economic pressures, security challenges, and deep political divisions. For Colombians heading to the polls that Sunday morning, the choice between these two very different visions of the country's future would shape the nation's direction for years to come.
Notable Quotes
The Registraduría stated that more than 510 voting stations would operate across 25 cities, each equipped with over 2,300 devices to help voters locate their polling place.— Registraduría (Colombia's electoral authority)
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter that results can't be announced until after 4 p.m.? Couldn't they just count as they go?
Because in a close election, early numbers can influence voters still waiting in line. If one candidate is clearly winning by 2 p.m., people might decide not to vote. Closing the polls first, then counting everything at once, is supposed to prevent that.
So Petro's 8.5 million votes in the first round—does that guarantee he wins the runoff?
Not at all. In a two-person race, the dynamics shift. Voters who backed other candidates in round one now have to pick between these two. Some might break toward Hernández. Petro's lead is real, but it's not a lock.
What's the actual crime if someone leaks results early?
Electoral fraud. The government treats it as a serious offense because it can distort the vote. They're protecting the integrity of the process itself, not just the outcome.
Why so many voting stations—over 510 across 25 cities?
Colombia is large and geographically diverse. You need enough polling places so people don't have to travel hours to vote. It's about access and participation.
The InfoVotantes app—is that new for this election?
It's part of how the Registraduría modernized voting logistics. Instead of mailing cards or posting lists, citizens can check their polling place on their phone. It reduces confusion and makes the process more transparent.
What happens if someone shows up at the wrong polling station?
They won't be allowed to vote there. The system is tied to your ID and your assigned location. It's meant to prevent fraud, but it also means voters have to know where they're supposed to be.