How does a Uruguay president get elected?

Answer 1

Once every 5 years there are National Elections.

First on May of the Election Year every political party that wants to have a representation in the National Elections has to arrange internal elections to designate only one person that would represent that party in the National Elections. The government handles this internal elections and the citizens can (it's optional) go and vote between the choices each party gives (only one of only one political party), from that election only one person would come out victorious from each political party (there are three major political parties in Uruguay and 3 minor parties). Then those politicians will have a political campaign until the end of October when the first step of the National Elections are held (at this time the vote is mandatory for any Uruguayan citizen that is inside the country at that time), if one party achieves 50% + 1 votes then the new President is elected, if not the two most votes candidates will have a final round at the end of November (the vote is mandatory again for Uruguayan citizens inside the country at that time) where by simple majority the President will be elected. The parlament will be elected always in October along with the President if it surpasses the 50% + 1 votes, if not the parlament is elected anyway in October and the president and vice-president will be elected the following month.

Answer 2

Once every five years all Uruguayan citizens above 18 years old living within the republic are obliged to vote. They go with their civic credential to the place where they vote and vote in a secret room (where only the person voting can enter), they choose the candidate's list and put it in an envelope (inside the room) and close the the envelope. Then they go outside the room and give the envelope to the people in charge of the room, they put it in a sealed box and when the elections are closed those people carry the boxes to a common place where all the votes are counted.

First a public non-mandatory election is held in May to elect who will represent each political party and then, in October the presidential election is held (which will have only one candidate per political party). If the elected candidate has 50% + 1 of the votes it's elected president, if it's not a second round will be held in November between the two most voted candidates.

The parlament is also elected during October's election so there would be many lists per political party in October, all with the same presidential and vice-presidential candidates but different parlament.

The president takes office the next March 1st (which that year would be a National Holiday).