Updated October 22, 2025

Argentina will hold its legislative elections on Sunday, and that can only mean one thing: you won’t be able to get a drink at your favorite bar this weekend. That’s because Argentina, like several other countries in Latin America, has what is known as a veda electoral (election ban).

From Friday morning at 8 a.m. until the close of polls on Sunday at 6 p.m., most public gatherings will be suspended. These include sporting events, theatrical productions and open-air shows and concerts. 

The public will also be unable to sell or purchase alcohol between 8 p.m. on Saturday and the end of the veda on Sunday, so if you’re hoping to enjoy a wine or spirit in the privacy of your home, you might consider stopping by your nearest supermarket over the next 48 hours. 

Many restaurants will be open but unable to serve alcohol.

As part of the veda, public political activities are restricted as well. News outlets cannot publish or disseminate electoral polls or any kind of election results before voting is completed. 

Similarly, political organizations are unable to distribute ballots or operate offices within 80 meters of a polling station. Transporting arms or bearing any kind of political paraphernalia within that radius is also illegal. Argentina’s political coalitions are likewise prohibited from making any kind of appeals to voters while the veda is in place.

These rules apply to Argentine citizens and non-citizens alike. Those who flout election laws can be subject to financial penalties and even jail time, depending on the offense. Crimes include: impeding someone’s vote with the threat of violence; forcing someone to vote in a specific manner; preventing someone from voting altogether; voting more than once or without being properly registered; removing or compromising ballot boxes; removing or destroying ballots in the “dark room” (where voters cast their ballots); falsifying or destroying voter rolls; and altering the voting results themselves.

Polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. on Sunday.