August 2025 - Pre-election Key Insights for the Upcoming Bolivia Presidential Election August 17

Pre-election key points - introduction to the 2025 Bolivia Presidential Election

The political landscape in Bolivia is poised for significant changes as the nation approaches the presidential election scheduled for August 2025. As we move nearer to this pivotal event, it is crucial for citizens and observers alike to stay informed about the developments that may influence the democratic process. This article outlines three main points to keep in mind as we anticipate the upcoming election.

1. Major Political Figures Absent

Key Bolivian politicians won't appear on the ballot, including President Arce who dropped his re-election bid in May [Buenos Aires Herald](https://buenosairesherald.com/world/latin-america/bolivia-2025-elections-whos-running-and-what-you-need-to-know)[Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/15/president-luis-arce-quits-bolivias-presidential-race-amid-slumping-support). This sidelines traditional heavyweights and opens the field to new faces.

2. Fragmented Candidate Field - 2 rounds likely

Nine presidential candidates compete with none exceeding 25% support in polls, while undecided voters form the largest bloc [Poll Tracker: Bolivia's 2025 Presidential Election | AS/COA](https://www.as-coa.org/articles/poll-tracker-bolivias-2025-presidential-election). This fragmentation likely forces a second round on October 19 [2025 Bolivian general election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Bolivian_general_election).

3. Economic Crisis

Elections occur during economic turmoil with high inflation and basic goods shortages [Poll Tracker: Bolivia's 2025 Presidential Election | AS/COA](https://www.as-coa.org/articles/poll-tracker-bolivias-2025-presidential-election), testing democratic institutions [Election Brief: Bolivia 2025 General Elections — All Tech Is Human](https://alltechishuman.org/all-tech-is-human-blog/election-brief-bolivia-2025). Economic recovery dominates campaign messaging.

Absent leaders, a crowded candidate field, and economic challenges make this Bolivia's most unpredictable recent election.