In Chile, nationwide elections for the presidency, parliament, regional offices, and municipal positions are held. The independent Electoral Service (, or Servel) supervises the electoral process, and the winners are proclaimed by the Election Certification Court (). This court is composed of four members from Chile's Supreme Court and one former legislator chosen by the court. Schedule Election Inauguration Electorate Citizens of Chile and foreign residents with legal residency of at least five years who are 18 years or older on election day are eligible to vote. All eligible citizens are automatically registered, and voting is compulsory. Between 2012 and 2023, voting was voluntary. Since 2014, Chileans have been able to vote overseas in presidential elections (including primaries) and referendums. Presidential elections Presidential elections elect a president, who serves as the chief of state and head of government for a period of four years. Non-consecutive re-election is permitted. The president is directly elected by an absolute majority of valid votes (excluding null and blank votes). If no candidate obtains such a majority, a runoff election is held between the two candidates with the most votes. Before 1989, the president was confirmed by Congress if elected by a simple majority. Each legally operating political party may nominate one of its members as a candidate. Independent candidates must gain the support of a number of independent electors before registering their candidacy. The number of signatures needed is equal to at least 0.5% of the number of people who voted in the most recent Chamber of Deputies election. For the 2013 election, the number was 36,318 signatures. According to the Constitution, presidential elections take place on the third Sunday of November in the year before the current president's term expires. If necessary, a runoff election is held on the fourth Sunday following the first election. The president is sworn in on the day the incumbent president's term expires. Before 2011, presidential elections were held 90 days before the current president's term expired. If that day was not a Sunday, the election was moved to the following Sunday. If necessary, a runoff election was held 30 days after the first election, following the Sunday rule. Since 1990, the president has taken office on March 11, so elections were held on or after December 11 of the previous year. Parliamentary elections Electoral system until 2017 Chile's bicameral Congress is composed of a Chamber of Deputies