What will the Single Paper Ballot used in the legislative elections be like?

The National Electoral Chamber (CNE) approved this Thursday the official templates for the Single Paper Ballot (BUP) , which will be used for the first time nationwide in the October 2025 legislative elections. The decision marks a significant change in the way citizens will cast their votes.

The panel, composed of Daniel Bejas , Alberto Dalla Vía , and Santiago Corcuera , emphasized the need to standardize the design and procedures. "It is essential to establish the highest possible degree of homogeneity to optimize the planning and development of logistics and training activities," they stated in the resolution.

To this end, each ballot will bear the inscription "National Elections 2025. October 26, 2025" in the upper right-hand corner. On the left, the district, section, circuit, and polling station information will be included, along with the punched stub.

The approved design establishes that the names of the parties and their candidates will appear vertically. Next to them, there will be a blank box where voters must mark their choice with a cross. In addition, a photograph of the top two candidates on each list will be included, as well as a description of the position being chosen.

To facilitate identification, each political group will be assigned a specific color. The order of the lists on the ballot will be determined by drawing lots, ensuring fairness among the available options.

If a group does not present candidates for a given category, the following message will be printed in the corresponding space: "No candidate presented." This measure aims to avoid confusion during voting.

Another new feature is that the ballots will include a central inscription at the top with clear instructions for the voter. Additionally, the back of each ballot will include the necessary folding guides to facilitate proper insertion into the ballot box.

The number of folds will depend on the width of each ballot. In all cases, vertical lines will be used to facilitate folding. This decision is intended to ensure that the ballot fits easily into the slot in the ballot box.

Since the ballot displays only the first names on each list, the complete lists, including both main and alternate candidates, will be displayed in the voting booth. The CNE indicated that this measure seeks to ensure clarity and accessibility of information.

The new single ballot system represents a transformation in Argentina's electoral culture. Starting in October, voters will have a single, standardized, and more transparent tool to elect their national representatives.

With this decision, the CNE advances the modernization of the electoral system, promoting greater transparency and efficiency at every stage of the democratic process.