"Polling stations in Chile closed this Sunday at 18:00 local time, marking the start of the manual vote counting process in the country’s presidential elections. Unity for Chile coalition candidate Jeannette Jara has since conceded in the race, with Republican Party candidate Jose Kast set to become the country’s next president. Footage shows electoral volunteers at the Estacion Mapocho Cultural Centre in Santiago counting ballots and calling out the results. Prior to the announcement that Jara had conceded after the preliminary stage of vote counting revealed Kast had built up a strong lead, locals expressed their expectations and reflections on the direction of the country and the significance of the electoral process. "We always hope for the best for the nation. Especially on issues that are very sensitive today, such as health and security, which are factors that must prevail for whoever governs," said Chilean citizen Juan Carlos Iturriaga. Other voters stressed that, regardless of the outcome, daily life continues, albeit with the hope that campaign promises will be translated into concrete actions by whoever is elected. "As on any other day, regardless of who is elected, things do not change much. We all have to keep moving forward. Every time there is a presidential election, the people who voted for their candidate feel hope that the proposals and plans will be fulfilled," added Juan Carlos Iturriaga. The Electoral Service, Servel, said via social media that the day took place normally and without major incidents, although some polling stations had to extend their operations for a few minutes to allow people still waiting in line to exercise their right to vote. In the first round of elections held on 16 November, the results showed 26.8% of the vote for Jara and nearly 24% for Kast."