Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Chilean voters backed Socialist Michelle Bachelet, the candidate of the coalition that has governed since 1990, in her bid to become the country's first woman president.

Bachelet, 54, garnered 45 percent of votes in early returns, short of the majority she needs for a victory today, according to a tally the government posted on its Web site. The early result suggests she may face a run-off election next month with the second-place candidate, multimillionaire Sebastian Pinera, who won 27 percent in early returns.