Chile's ruling coalition candidate Yanet Jara is leading with 31.3 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results from the presidential election, putting her in position to become the first Communist Party candidate to reach the second round, Reuters reported.
Jose Antonio Cast, founder of the far-right Republican Party, is in second place with 23.3 percent of the vote.
The two candidates are likely to face each other in the second round on December 14.
Jara now faces a tough battle, as pollsters give the right an advantage in December, with conservative forces expected to rally around Casta.
Eight candidates ran in the polls last night, but to win the first round, they had to get 50% plus one vote.
The election campaign was dominated by issues of security and illegal immigration.