Meaning of the plebiscite in Chile, according to Alejandra Matus 2:35 (CNN Spanish) — The Chilean Constitutional Plebiscite is approaching and, unlike the presidential and legislative elections, participation in this electoral day on September 4 is mandatory. Participation in this plebiscite is mandatory “for those who have an electoral domicile in Chile,” according to the Chilean Electoral Service, Servel. The Constitutional Plebiscite of Chile is the last stage of the process that began in 2020, when another National Plebiscite took place to decide whether or not a Constitutional Convention would be formed to change the current Political Constitution of Chile, approved in 1980 at the time of the Pinochet dictatorship. . In that plebiscite, the “Yes” triumphed with 78% support. Chileans are called on Sunday September 4 to vote whether to approve or reject the draft of the new Constitution prepared by the Constitutional Convention, which could become the new official Constitution of Chile. A woman receives a copy of the draft of Chile’s new constitution in front of La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, on August 11, 2022. – Chile votes on September 4 in a plebiscite whether to approve or reject the draft of the new constitution . (Credit: MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images) How much will the fine be if they don’t vote in the plebiscite? People who are domiciled in Chile must vote on September 4 and if they do not do so, they will be fined “for municipal benefit from 0.5 to 3 monthly tax units”, which is currently 59,595 Chilean pesos, according to the Internal Revenue Service. . The figure represents approximately US$68 at current exchange rates. In other words, whoever does not vote would have to pay fines of between US$34 and US$200. The question to be answered 15.1 million voters are qualified to vote in the plebiscite, out of a total population of close to 20 million inhabitants. The plebicist presents the following question written on the ballot paper: “Do you approve the text of the New Constitution proposed by the Constitutional Convention?” The possible answers are “I approve” or “I reject”, which appear on the same card, below the question, so that the voter can make their choice. If approved, the text produced by the Constitutional Convention will become the new Constitution of Chile, repealing the current one, which dates from the Chilean dictatorship. In the future it may be subject to reforms.