STORY: Bolivia is set to hold its general election on August 17 with just over 7.9 million Bolivians eligible to cast ballots in what could mark a significant shift in the country's political landscape after nearly two decades of leftist rule.

Final preparations were underway on Friday (August 15) evening as election officials across the country secured voting materials and polling stations. In Villa Tunari, El Chapare, soldiers stood guard as electoral officials unloaded ballot boxes and election materials from buses.

An economic crisis and a divided left have opened the door to a possible right-wing victory for the first time in decades. The country's deep economic crisis is top-of-mind for voters amidst inflation and fuel shortages.

The election comes amid unprecedented political fragmentation. President Luis Arce has opted not to run for reelection, and a Constitutional Court ruling in May barred former President Evo Morales from participating. Morales, who dominated Bolivian politics for over a decade, has called for supporters to boycott the election by casting null votes.

A poll aggregator compiled by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas shows conservatives Samuel Doria Medina and Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga vying for the lead. Businessman Samuel Doria Medina is leading the polls with 19.6% support, while former President Jorge Quiroga is in second place with 16.6%.

The leading leftist candidate, Andronico Rodriguez, is running as an independent and boasts roots in Bolivia's rural coca-growing regions, polling at around 13.7% support. The official MAS candidate in the 2025 election, former minister Eduardo del Castillo, has barely made a ripple in the polls.

To avoid a run-off, the top presidential candidate must either earn more than 50 percent of the vote or garner 40 percent of the vote and have a 10-point lead over the second-place contender. But that scenario is unlikely, given the tight race between candidates like Medina and Quiroga. The presidential race is expected to proceed to a second round of voting on October 19.

Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. local time Sunday, with Bolivians casting ballots for 36 Senate seats and 130 positions in the Chamber of Deputies in addition to the presidential race. The presidential and legislative winners will all take office on November 8.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: VILLA TUNARI, EL CHAPARE, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 15, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. SOLDIER GUARDING EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION

2. VARIOUS OF ELECTORAL BODY OFFICIALS UNLOADING ELECTION MATERIAL FROM BUS

3. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AND ELECTORAL BODY OFFICIALS CARRYING BOXES WITH ELECTION MATERIAL

4. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AND ELECTORAL BODY OFFICIALS CHECKING BOXES

5. LABEL ON BOX READING (Spanish) "ELECTION BAG"

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ELECTORAL BODY OFFICIAL, THELMA SOTO, SAYING:

"The military are guarding the ballot boxes to ensure they arrive at the polling stations. Nothing unusual happened on the way; everything went smoothly."

7. SOTO STICKING LABEL ON ENTRANCE TO POLLING STATION

SHINAOTA, EL CHAPARE, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 16, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

8. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF TOWN

9. EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION

10. SOLDIER GUARDING INTERIOR OF POLLING STATION

11. BOXES WITH ELECTION MATERIAL INSIDE POLLING STATION

12. VARIOUS OF SOLDIER GUARDING POLLING STATION

13. EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION

14. POLICE OFFICER GUARDING POLLING STATION

15. LABEL ON ENTRANCE TO POLLING STATION

16. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF TOWN

LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 16, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

17. VARIOUS OF ELECTORAL COURT BUILDING

18. VARIOUS OF DRIVERS QUEUEING TO GET DRIVING PERMITS ON ELECTION DAY

19. MERCOSUR ELECTION OBSERVERS WALKING

20. MERCOSUR ELECTION OBSERVERS ENTERING ELECTORAL COURT

21. COUPLE DRINKING COFFEE AND SITTING ON BENCH

22. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VOTER, YAREL CIELO, SAYING:

"This is my first year voting. My expectations for the election are that it will be democratic and fair, and that people's decisions will be respected. I hope for change because we are currently in a very dire economic situation."

23. PEOPLE WALKING IN QUAREA