Former Chilean President Michelle
Bachelet is favored to win Sunday's presidential election.
Despite facing 8 challengers, the
62-year-old Bachelet is expected to receive the lion's share of the
vote and possibly avoid a runoff.
Bachelet, a former political prisoner,
ended a 4-year presidential term in 2010.
She is seen as a champion of the
millions of social protesters who have taken to the streets to demand
change.
Voters on Sunday will also choose 120
members of the lower House of Congress and 20 out of 38 Senate seats.
While lowering the nation's income
inequality would be Bachelet's mandate, she has also reached out to
the gay community.
“I have said publicly that I am in
favor of marriage equality,” Bachelet said in August after meeting
with various LGBT rights groups.
“A law is not enough. Essential yet
insufficient. The state must also offer its services without
discrimination,” she added.
If she fails on Sunday to receive 50
percent of the vote, Bachelet will likely face conservative Evelyn
Matthei, her closest rival, in a December 15 runoff election. An
October poll showed Matthei trailing with only 14 percent support.
Matthei and only one other presidential
candidate oppose marriage equality.