Hondurans went to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president in a closely contested race marked by allegations of voter fraud and political tensions.
The vote, which also includes elections for Congress, mayors, and other officials, opened at 7 a.m. local time and was set to close after 10 hours, with initial results expected late that night.
More than 6.5 million eligible voters faced a choice among five candidates, though polls showed a virtual tie between three frontrunners.
The incumbent, President Xiomara Castro of the leftist Liberty and Refoundation (LIBRE) party, is barred from seeking re-election after one term.
Rixi Moncada, a former defense minister running for LIBRE, aims to continue Castro's social and economic agenda, which has included increased public investment and prudent fiscal management praised by the International Monetary Fund.
Under Castro's administration, the economy has grown moderately, poverty and inequality have decreased though remain high, and the homicide rate has reached its lowest in recent history, despite persistent violence.
Salvador Nasralla, a television host and candidate for the centrist Liberal Party, positions himself as an outsider focused on combating endemic corruption.
Nasry Asfura, former mayor of Tegucigalpa and nominee of the right-wing National Party, seeks to restore the party as a pro-business force, tarnished by past corruption scandals.
The campaign has been dominated by mutual accusations of fraud, including investigations into alleged audio recordings of a National Party politician discussing election influence, which the party claims were AI-generated.
U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Asfura, stating on social media that if he does not win, the U.S. would not continue aid, and announced a pardon for former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking ties.
This intervention came amid heightened U.S. interest in the region, including military buildup in the Caribbean and threats against Venezuela.
The Organization of American States called for elections free of intimidation and fraud, while U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau warned of swift responses to any undermining of the process.
Public distrust of electoral authorities has grown due to delays in voting materials and polarization.
Voters expressed varied priorities, including security, jobs, and anti-corruption efforts, with some hoping for a peaceful outcome to advance democracy.