Indirectpresidential elections were held inChile on 25 July 1891.[1]Claudio Vicuña Guerrero, a member of theLiberal Party, was elected president. However, he never took office and subsequently went into exile.
The election was carried out in accordance with the electoral law of 20 August 1890, which created the secret voting chamber and introduced vote folding. The election was also the first not to be under the control of the provincial intendant, who was designated by the central government, beginning to be managed by municipalities.[2]
The elections took place in the last months of the government ofJosé Manuel Balmaceda and in the middle of theChilean Civil War of 1891. Vicuña was openly supported by Balmaceda, and had been nominated by thePartido Liberal in its convention of 8 March 1891.[3] Due to the victory of his opponents in theCivil War,President-elect Vicuña was unable to take office.
