For the second time in its history, the seat for Colombians abroad has become one of the most closely contested races in the legislative elections scheduled for March 8, with 43 registered candidates — belonging to 11 parties and six different political coalitions — competing for a single seat in the House of Representatives.
The historic figure far exceeds previous elections, when 22 candidates ran in 2018 and 30 in 2014, highlighting the parties’ interest in capturing the diaspora vote in an election that has traditionally seen low voter turnout.
Representing Colombians who live outside the country is an expression of legal and political recognition of a population that now exceeds 5 million people spread across dozens of countries.
In this regard, Colombians over the age of 18 who reside abroad and registered their national ID before Jan. 8 will be able to vote in this international district.
However, although more than 1.2 million nationals are eligible to vote from abroad, less than 20% of the electorate actually exercises this right at the polls, a reality that forces candidates to intensify communication and mobilization efforts at consulates and diplomatic missions.
43 Colombian candidates abroad compete for a single seat in Congress
The seat for Colombians abroad was created as part of the constitutional and legal recognition that political representation should extend beyond the country’s territorial boundaries.
This figure is established as a special district within the House of Representatives, designed to ensure that those residing outside Colombia have a direct voice in Congress.
Law 649 of 2001, which regulates Article 176 of the Political Constitution of Colombia, establishes the existence of this special district with the purpose of ensuring the political participation of Colombians residing abroad, along with other districts for smaller groups such as Afro-descendants, Indigenous peoples, and political minorities.
The election of this representative is a mechanism of political inclusion: It allows the demands, challenges, and proposals of those who live and work outside the country to reach a national decision-making arena.
These voters, who cast their ballots at consulates, embassies, and authorized polling stations in different countries, directly choose the candidate or list they consider best suited to defend their interests on issues ranging from social security and labor rights to migration policies and education.
In this year’s race, the list of candidates is the largest in the history of this district. Traditional parties are participating, such as the Liberal Party, the Party of the U, and the Conservative Party, as well as groups belonging to right-wing blocs — including the Democratic Center, Radical Change, and others — and smaller parties such as the Democrat Party and the Ecologist Party.
In addition, several political coalitions have registered candidates, including Green Alliance and On the Move, Alma, Citizen Force, Broad Front, and Mira and Dignity and Commitment.
The figure of 43 candidates indicates that political forces are betting heavily on this district. The closed-list system, which requires voters to choose a party rather than a specific candidate, has led to strategic alliances and the presentation of multiple representatives on a single list to capture the highest possible number of votes.
Beyond abroad: other seats with historical significance
The seat for Colombians abroad is not the only one that breaks with the traditional logic of territorial representation. The Colombian Congress also has other special districts that recognize the country’s social diversity and political history.
The Constitution and legislation have created mechanisms so that historically marginalized groups or those in exceptional situations have concrete representation in the House and the Senate.
These include Indigenous and Afro-descendant seats, which seek to ensure the political participation of peoples and communities that have historically been excluded from the national political process.
For example, in the Senate, there are specific positions assigned to Indigenous representatives, and in the House of Representatives, there are seats reserved for Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities.
This affirmative action aims to give legislative voice to cultural and ethnic sectors that cannot always compete on equal footing in traditional territorial districts.
A separate chapter consists of the transitional districts that were granted 10 years ago to the now-defunct FARC following their demobilization.
This figure, which emerged as a result of the Peace Agreement signed in 2016 between the Colombian State and the guerrilla group, granted a total of 10 seats (five in the Senate and five in the House) to representatives of the new party — now called Comunes — born out of that agreement and formed by former guerrilla fighters.
Those seats existed only for two legislative terms — 2018–2022 and 2022–2026 — so this year, the political leaders of the former guerrilla group will have to compete on equal terms with the rest of the political candidates under normal conditions.