Cuándo es la ley seca por las Elecciones 2026: las multas por incumplir

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The 48-Hour “Ley Seca” Window and Prohibited Sales

As of 8:00 a.m. today, Saturday, June 6, the Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) has activated the “ley seca” (dry law). This restriction remains in effect until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, June 8, completing the 48 continuous hours of prohibition required by Article 351 of the Organic Law of Elections. The ban is comprehensive, prohibiting the sale and commercialization of alcoholic beverages across the entire national territory. This applies to:

• Supermarkets and bodegas
• Restaurants, bars, and nightclubs
• Any other establishment open to the public
• Home delivery services if the business is formally open and taking public orders

The primary objective is to maintain public order and reduce alcohol-related incidents, ensuring citizens can vote on Sunday, June 7, in an environment of transparency and responsibility. Establishments that ignore these measures face severe consequences, including temporary closures, economic sanctions, and potential criminal proceedings for those responsible.

Timeline of Electoral Silence and Propaganda Bans

The dry law is only one piece of a broader restrictive framework designed to ensure the integrity of the runoff between Keiko Fujimori of Fuerza Popular and Roberto Sánchez of Juntos por el Perú. According to El Peruano, the restrictions rolled out in phases starting earlier this month:

• June 1 (00:00 hours): Prohibition of the dissemination or publication of voting intention polls in the media.
• June 5 (00:00 hours): Prohibition of political meetings or public manifestations.
• June 6 (00:00 hours): Suspension of all forms of electoral propaganda.

The distinction between “political talk” and “propaganda” is a critical nuance. While discussing politics is not banned, directing the vote toward a specific candidate is.

“The propaganda is when a candidate or some person tries to promote the orientation of the vote toward someone, that is prohibited, speaking of politics is not exactly a prohibition, but rather orienting the vote, that is why we see candidates on Sunday at electoral breakfasts… what is prohibited is that they say on that day that one should vote for A or for B.”

Víctor Velásquez, legal expert in electoral legislation, via RPP On election day, Sunday, June 7, from 7:00 to 17:00, the restrictions tighten further. Political meetings and public spectacles are strictly prohibited within a 100-meter radius of polling centers.

Prison Terms and Security Deployments

The Peruvian state is not treating these restrictions as mere suggestions. The penalties for violating electoral norms are severe. As reported by Andina, the violation of the ban on public political manifestations can be sanctioned with prison sentences ranging from three months to two years, per Article 388 of the law. To enforce these mandates and safeguard the vote, the government has deployed approximately 45,000 members of the Armed Forces across the country. JNE inspectors are also conducting operations in various regions to ensure that the “silence electoral” is respected and that the environment remains conducive to a free and transparent vote.

The Debate Over Outdated Electoral Laws

Despite the strict enforcement, legal experts argue that Peru’s electoral framework is struggling to keep pace with modern reality. Speaking with RPP, Víctor Velásquez highlighted a significant loophole in the “ley seca”: the law prohibits the sale of alcohol, but not the consumption of it. Velásquez suggests that the norm should be modified to restrict consumption as well, arguing that citizens should vote with full consciousness and responsibility. However, since consumption often happens in private spaces, the law focuses on the public sphere of sales. The most glaring obsolescence, however, is the ban on polling. The current law dates back to 1997, with modifications in 2000, meaning it is nearly 30 years old. In an era of instant social media, a week-long blackout on polls is increasingly ineffective.

“That law generates symmetry of information, and while it is true there is a week of electoral silence, because we do not know how the elections are going, I consider that it should be reformed, because, in the end, in other countries polls are known quietly until a day before, and that does not alter the sense of the popular will.”

Víctor Velásquez, legal expert in electoral legislation, via RPP As the country moves toward the 2031 horizon, the tension between 20th-century legislation and 21st-century digital immediacy remains a primary point of friction for the JNE and legal scholars alike. For now, the focus remains on the immediate 48-hour window: no alcohol, no propaganda, and a heavy military presence to ensure the transition of power remains orderly.