BOGOTA - Polls have closed in Colombia's Sunday presidential election, where voters chose between a leftist pledging to expand reforms, an independent businessman promising a security crackdown and a right-wing senator seeking to become the country's first female leader.

The contest is expected to head to a runoff.

Authorities reported a peaceful day at the polls, where more than 40 million Colombians are eligible to vote. Results are expected within several hours.

Leftist Ivan Cepeda, a 63-year-old senator, has been leading opinion polls but looks likely to fall short of the 50%-plus support needed to avoid a June runoff. Surveys suggest he will face a much tougher contest in a second round, once right-leaning and centrist voters no longer have multiple candidates to choose from.

Cepeda, the son of a murdered communist leader, has promised to pursue peace with illegal armed groups through negotiations, a policy that has led to little progress under current leader President Gustavo Petro. He also plans to deepen reforms meant to reduce inequality and poverty, including by raising taxes on high earners, gifting 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres) to victims of the country's six-decade internal conflict, and expanding healthcare coverage.

"We cannot hand the country back to the same wealthy elites; we need another four years of a government of the people, and many more," said 66-year-old Amparo Paez, who voted for Cepeda and said she receives government financial assistance because she did not meet pension requirements.

"What we poor people have received is a lot."

LAWYER WITH TOUGH-ON-CRIME AGENDA

Hot on Cepeda's heels is lawyer and businessman Abelardo De La Espriella, who has never held elected office, but whose style and policy proposals have drawn comparisons to El Salvador's Nayib Bukele.

Portraying himself as an outsider free from political baggage, De La Espriella, 47, has proposed a tough offensive against illegal armed groups, the construction of 10 megaprisons and poverty reduction through better education, healthcare and housing for the poorest.

"We believe that with Abelardo we can return to the path of growth and prosperity we had before the left came and destroyed everything," said Jhon Vergara, a 55-year-old auto mechanic. "We cannot allow this to keep going in the wrong direction. We have to think about future generations and the country we want to leave - in my case, for my grandchildren."

De La Espriella, who has legally represented controversial figures including former Venezuelan minister Alex Saab, has warned Cepeda would ensure the continuation of Petro's much-criticized economic policies, including a ban on new oil projects.

The lawyer says he has financed his campaign with his own resources, without receiving donations from parties or large companies. Reuters could not independently verify that claim.

RIGHT-WING CANDIDATE AGAINST CORRUPTION

Polling in third place is Paloma Valencia, a senator backed by former President Alvaro Uribe, and until recently the leading right-wing candidate in the race.

Valencia's platform has similarities to De La Espriella's, including a hard line against corruption, drug trafficking and illegal armed groups. She also supports tax breaks for companies meant to create jobs and social programs to improve healthcare, education and housing, financed by renewed oil and gas exploration.

Valencia's invective against corruption resonated with landlord Antonio Pena, 69, who said he had voted for Petro in 2022.

"Four years ago I backed change, but I was deeply disappointed. What disappointed me most was seeing corruption continue as before and promises remain unfulfilled," he said.

(Reporting by Carlos Vargas, Luis Jaime Acosta and Nelson Bocanegra, Editing by Julia Symmes Cobb, Deepa Babington and Chris Reese)

Colombian President Gustavo Petro shows the media his ballot before casting his vote at the Congress of the Republic during the first round of the presidential election, in Bogota, Colombia, in this handout photo released on May 31, 2026. Colombian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS Colombian Presidency Reuters

Colombian presidential candidate Paloma Valencia of the Democratic Centre party greets supporters after voting at a polling station during the first round of the presidential election, in Bogota, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun Enea Lebrun Reuters

Colombian presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda of the Historic Pact party reacts at a polling station during the first round of the presidential election, in Bogota, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez Luisa Gonzalez Reuters

Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe Velez accompanied by Colombian presidential candidate Paloma Valencia of the Democratic Centre party, as they speak to the press, during the first round of the presidential election, in Rio Negro, Colombia, May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Juan David Duque Juan David Duque Reuters

A police officer checks the indentity of a woman as she enters the polling station to cast a vote during the first round of the presidential election, in Barranquilla, Colombia May 31, 2026. REUTERS/Charlie Cordero Charlie Cordero Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 2:15 PM.

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