Weeks before 2026 elections — being the closest ones on March 8, when congressional elections are held, and in which more than 41,287,084 Colombians are eligible to vote, according to data from the NCRC — the National Civil Registry of Colombia (NCRC) launched one of its most ambitious recent technological initiatives: An institutional chatbot available on WhatsApp that allows citizens to consult official electoral information within seconds, from anywhere in the world.
The tool was created with a clear objective: To reduce misinformation and remove logistical barriers that have historically affected voter participation in Colombia.
In previous elections, millions of citizens did not vote simply because they did not know where they were assigned to vote, were unsure whether they were registered, or did not understand the ballot. The authority now aims to ensure none of those reasons prevent participation again.
More than a messaging service, the system is intended to function as a permanent electoral service desk, open 24 hours a day, operating before, during, and after election day.
It is important to note that during the launch of this new tool, the National Registrar Hernan Penagos reminded citizens that the electoral census for the congressional elections closed on Jan. 8, and those who update their polling place after that date will only be able to participate in the presidential elections.
He explained that this situation has caused confusion, especially among Colombians abroad who have filed claims through PQR requests after not appearing as eligible to vote in the congressional elections.
He reminded citizens that it is essential during this electoral cycle to be aware of the current electoral calendar in order to avoid misunderstandings on the available digital platforms.
A conversational assistant replacing multiple procedures
The chatbot works as a digital operator that integrates in one channel information that previously required visiting different websites or physical offices. Users only need to open WhatsApp, start the conversation, and type a question.
There is no need to learn commands or navigate forms. A citizen can write naturally: “Where do I vote?” “Am I a poll worker?” or simply send their ID number. The system interprets the request and provides a personalized answer extracted directly from the electoral database.
This represents a significant change compared to traditional institutional consultation models. For years, official websites collapsed on election day due to massive traffic. Now information is distributed across thousands of simultaneous conversations, reducing the risk of system-wide failures.
The tool is also designed for users with limited digital skills. It works on low-end smartphones, requires no additional downloads, and uses the country’s most widely used messaging platform.
How to access it from any device
The access process was designed so that anyone can use it in less than a minute. There are no registrations or account creation steps. First, the official chatbot number must be saved. Then the user opens WhatsApp and starts the chat. An automatic menu appears immediately and guides the user.
From there, citizens can type freely or choose suggested options. The system answers within seconds and allows multiple consecutive queries without restarting the conversation.
Availability is universal: It works both inside Colombia and abroad, as long as there is internet connectivity.
Information available to voters
The chatbot centralizes nearly all logistical information a voter needs before going to the polls. Its main value lies in personalization, since responses depend on the ID number provided.
Citizens can learn their assigned polling station, specific voting table, and exact address with directions. They can also verify whether their ID is active in the electoral roll or if it has administrative issues.
Another key function is candidate consultation. The system shows candidates corresponding to the user’s electoral district, avoiding confusion when different lists exist across regions.
The platform also includes educational material. Voters can view ballot simulations to learn how to mark correctly and avoid null votes, a frequent problem in past elections.
On election day, the tool will activate a special mode allowing consultation of preliminary official results as counting progresses.
Eight core functions in a single conversation
The system was structured to resolve the most common citizen questions. Its capabilities include personalized polling place lookup, voter eligibility verification, and confirmation of whether the user has been appointed a poll worker.
It also provides candidate lists according to district, access to educational ballots, general logistical guidance, and real-time preliminary results on election day.
A particularly relevant feature is international polling search for Colombians living abroad, a population that has grown significantly in recent electoral cycles. All of this is obtained without forms or travel: Sending the ID number once is enough.
Colombians abroad: Consulate search
Complementing the chatbot, the National Civil Registry also enabled a mapping tool that lets voters locate every polling station in Colombia and overseas with accuracy.
As detailed through the National Civil Registry’s official channels, by visiting the official website (www.registraduria.gov.co) and opening the “Elections 2026” portal, users can navigate to the “Congress of the Republic” section and view an interactive map.
There, they can filter by department, municipality, and specific polling place to see the exact address and its position on the map. The tool includes an international module covering 67 diplomatic missions enabled for the 2026 electoral process.
Citizens outside the country can type the name of their city, and the system automatically identifies the corresponding consulate. The response includes address, hours, and recommendations.
This aims to solve one of the biggest problems of overseas voting: logistical uncertainty. In previous elections, many Colombians abroad did not participate simply because they did not know their exact polling location.
Now access is immediate through the same messaging channel they use daily.
Real-time preliminary results on election day
The chatbot will not only function before voting. On March 8, it will become a live informational tracking tool.
As preliminary counting advances, users will be able to request municipal, departmental, or national results. The data comes directly from the official pre-count system, reducing the circulation of false numbers.
Authorities expect this to reduce reliance on social media as the primary source of electoral information during a period when inaccurate figures often spread rapidly.
The problem the electoral authority is trying to solve
The project responds to a combination of abstention, misinformation, and technological congestion. Every election cycle, millions of simultaneous queries crashed institutional websites. A large portion of abstention also stemmed from practical reasons: citizens unsure where to vote or convinced they were not registered.
The chatbot anticipates this scenario. Instead of waiting for voters to reach an office or website, the information reaches the citizens’ daily digital environment. The strategy also follows a modern public service logic; the institution moves to the platform where the population already is.
It remains important to highlight that the authority clarified that the chatbot is strictly informational. It cannot modify records or enable digital voting. The ID number is used only to consult the electoral database and is not stored for other purposes. This addresses common concerns about automated tools and aims to reinforce trust in the official channel.
A step toward electoral modernization
The chatbot reflects a broader transformation in public administration, the migration toward conversational services. Instead of complex portals, citizens interact through simple questions.
The electoral authority is betting that easier access to information increases participation. In a democracy, logistics matter as much as ideology. When voting is simple, more people do it.
If the system reduces abstention linked to a lack of information and improves understanding of the process, it could become a permanent model for future elections.
The innovation does not change voting rules, but it changes the voter’s experience. And in a country such as Colombia, where millions of democratic decisions depend on whether citizens go to the polls, experience can be decisive.