Bolivians vote in a presidential runoff on Sunday (October 19) that marks a decisive rejection of the socialist government and a likely foreign policy shift closer to the United States after decades of frosty relations.

The race pits centrist Senator Rodrigo Paz against conservative former president Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga. Both candidates have pledged to strengthen diplomatic ties with Washington — strained since 2009 — and seek U.S.-backed financial support to stabilize Bolivia's fragile economy.

The runoff between two pro-market candidates from privileged backgrounds signals an epochal shift for Bolivia, following two decades of dominance by the leftist Movement to Socialism party, founded by Evo Morales and once backed by the country's Indigenous majority.

For some voters the finalists echo the conservative governments of the 1990s, which championed privatization and close relations with the United States. Morales, who took power in 2006 and was Bolivia's first Indigenous leader, pursued alliances with Cuba, Venezuela and Russia, and nationalized the oil and gas industry.

Quiroga has promised "radical change," including deep cuts to public spending and closing or privatizing loss-making state-owned companies. Paz favors a more gradual approach, maintaining social programs for the poor while promoting private-sector growth.

Opinion polls show Quiroga with a narrow lead. A September Ipsos survey gave him 47% support to Paz's 39%, though Paz outperformed expectations in the August first round.

Voting stations opened at 8 a.m. local time (1200 GMT) and close at 4 p.m., with initial results expected after 9 p.m. The winner will take office on November 8.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (OCTOBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VOTING CENTRE

2. POLICE HELPING RESIDENT AT VOTING CENTRE

3. ELECTORAL STAFF SHOWING CLEAN BALLOT

4. CLEAN BALLOT SHOWING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

5. ELECTORAL STAFF AT WORK DURING ELECTION

6. RESIDENT PLACING BALLOT IN BALLOT BOX

7. LOGO OF PLURINATIONAL ELECTORAL BODY

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, RODOLFO CHAMBI, SAYING:

“We hope that they fulfill their promises to all their voters, that they deliver, that everything is normal, that there is only one winner, and that this country becomes a better place.”

9. VARIOUS OF POLICE VOTING

10. ELECTORAL STAFF SHOWING CLEAN BALLOT

11. RESIDENT PLACING BALLOT IN BALLOT BOX

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, CECILIA JACOBS, SAYING:

"I want us all to have peace of mind, to be able to work in peace, to give wings to our dreams once again, to not live in such fear, such terror, such stagnation with this situation."

13. RESIDENT CHECKING IN AT VOTING CENTRE

14. RESIDENTS IN LINE AT VOTING CENTRE

15. ELECTORAL STAFF AT WORK

16. RESIDENT HANDING ID TO ELECTORAL STAFF

SOPOCACHI, LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (OCTOBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

17. RESIDENT CASTING BALLOT

18. VARIOUS OF VOTING STATIONS BEING SET UP, PEOPLE IN VOTING STATIONS

19. GYM USED AS VOTING CENTRE

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, LESLIE QUINTANA, SAYING:

“And what we hope for on this day is that we will have a transparent vote, that Bolivia will be able to elect a better president, that we will be able to have a change in our country after many years of a single government administration, and that things will improve for our country and our people.”

21. TABLE FOUR BANNER BEING HANGED ON WALL

22. VARIOUS OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS SUPERVISING

23. POLLING STATIONS OFFICIALS SETTING UP BALLOT BOX

24. NUN ABOUT TO CAST HER VOTE

25. NUN CASTING HER VOTE

26. VARIOUS OF RESIDENT, OSCAR QUIROGA, WAITING TO VOTE

27. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, OSCAR QUIROGA, SAYING:

"All elections are important, but this one is special because it represents a radical change, doesn't it? An entire economic model of political thought is coming to an end. Another type of system, a different model, will likely take its place."

28. QUIROGA VOTING

29. LINE OF VOTERS

30. VOTING IN PROGRESS

31. POLLING STATION OFFICER SHOWING CLEAN BALLOT

32. RESIDENT VOTING