Costa Rica
- System of government
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09
Unitary presidential constitutional republic
System of government-References:
- Total population
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 4,586,353
Total population-References:
- Total area (in square kilo meters)
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 51,100 km2
Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:
- Number of registered voters
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 3,024,159
Number of registered voters-References:
- Number of registered political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Number of polling stations
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Average number of voters per polling station
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting age
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 In Costa Rica, all citizens who are 18 years of age or older and have registered may vote. The voter must
present valid national identification; however, an expired identification card may be presented only if the date of expiration does not exceed 12 months.
Voting age-References:
- Elected Offices
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 1 President and 2 Vice-Presidents
Elected Offices-References:
- Election system
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15 The winning candidate must receive at least 40% of the valid vote. If no candidate receives this percentage, a second-round election is held for the top two candidates.
Election system-References:
- Terms of office
- Last Updated : 2016-09-27 In the Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) 57 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 4-year terms
Terms of office-References:
- Election
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 Costa Rican general election, 2014
Election-References:
- Date
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 2 February 2014
Date-References:
- Political parties in the elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Number of elected candidates
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 57
Number of elected candidates-References:
- Voter turnout
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 55%
Voter turnout-References:
- Number of ballots cast
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 1,712,679
Number of ballots cast-References:
- Legal framework for elections
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Separate legislation
Legal framework for elections-References:
- Legal provisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09
Constitution: “Constituci?n Pol?tica de la Rep?blica de Costa Rica (2003)”, art. 102, 105, 123, 129, 168 & 195
Legal provisions-References:
- Referenda
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 Constitution: “Constituci?n Pol?tica de la Rep?blica de Costa Rica (2003)”, art. 168:
Referenda-References:
- People’s Initiatives
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08 Constitution: “Constituci?n Pol?tica de la Rep?blica de Costa Rica (2003)”, art. 123:
People’s Initiatives-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08 Municipal Law: "Ley 7794, C?digo Municipal (2010)", art. 19:
Recall Votes-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-12-08 Municipal Law: "Ley 7794, C?digo Municipal (2010)", art. 19:
Recall Votes-References:
- Official name
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 Supreme Electoral Court of Costa Rica
Official name -References:
- Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 Independent
Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:
- EMB budget source
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 The legislature
EMB budget source-References:
- EMB expenditure audit
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 The legislature
EMB expenditure audit-References:
- Number of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 1 - 10 members
Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Term of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 For a specified number of years
Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Who appoints members (commissioners)?
- Last Updated : 2016-09-09 Judiciary
Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:
- Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
- Last Updated : 2016-09-22 Elected
Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:
- Administrative divisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09
7 provinces
81 cantons
districts
Administrative divisions -References:
- Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:
- Criteria for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Compactness of constituencies
Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:
- Body responsible for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Executive - Other
Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:
- Requirements on the right to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the right to vote revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral Eligibility
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reasons for having the eligibility revoked
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Requirements for party registration
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Signature requirement - Regional distribution requirement - Other
Requirements for party registration-References:
- Candidate nomination
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 independent candidates compete neither in presidential nor legislative elections
Candidate nomination-References:
- Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09
- Requirement
Age
Citizenship
Residence
Candidate Registration (National Assembly members) -References:
- Candidate registration deposit
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Amount of fee
- Return of fee
- Uncontested Election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Preparation of the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09
A continuous register (voter data is continuously collected and d between electoral events)
Preparation of the voters list-References:
- Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 Yes
Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)-References:
- Who is responsible for the voters list
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 Election Management Body
Who is responsible for the voters list -References:
- Voters list preparation procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Inspection and objection procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Definition
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Period
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Prohibited forms of campaigning
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Who is not permitted to campaign
- Campaign Finance
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Campaign expense limit
- Income and expenditure of campaign expense
- Report, public inspection, and open of income and expenditure
- Investigation on income and expenditure of campaign expense & actions
- Reimbursement of campaign expense
- Presiding officers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① How many of officers in a polling station
② Roles of each officer
③ How we nominate the officers
- Facilities or items a polling station is equipped with
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Polling station location criteria
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting hours
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Is compulsory or voluntary?
② How many ballot papers are distributed to each voter?
- Ballot Paper
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Determination of the order of candidates on ballots
② What has to be included in the ballot paper?
③ Ballot paper design or sample ballot paper
④ Valid and invalid ballot paper
- Voting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start ofvoting
- Process of voting
- End of voting
- Marking method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Special voting (Absentee / Early / Proxy / Assisted / Postal / etc)
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
① Who are subjected to do
② Voting procedures
- Counting Location
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 The polling stations
Counting Location-References:
- Counting period
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Separate ballots for different elections - Preliminary count of all ballots in ballot box - Tally of voters who voted - Single tallying as voters are being called out - Sorted into piles according to individual party/candidate - Copies of results of the count are publicly posted at the counting site immediately on the completion of the count - Other
Counting period-References:
- Vote counting method
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting Procedures
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Start of counting
- Process of counting
- End of counting
- When are ballots recounted?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Never recounted
When are ballots recounted?-References:
- Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 Citizens residing outside the country
Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?-References:
- Overseas voters list preparation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Where to vote
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Voting procedure for early voting
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Methods used to transport ballot papers
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Counting procedure
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- How is the elected candidate chosen in the case of a tie?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Apportioning of National Assembly seats
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Results Announcement
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Is the announcement of preliminary result required?
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Deadline for announcement of final results
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Reason for holding a by- or re-election
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- By-election dates
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Electoral process
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 N/A
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:
- Television debates
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 N/A
Television debates-References:
- Blackout period for release of election survey results
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 2-3 days
Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution body
- Last Updated : 2016-10-28 EMB
Electoral dispute resolution body-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12
The complaint which is found on reasons known on the election day or following the preliminary counting, should be filed before the Supreme Electoral Tribunal within three (3) days from the date the contested documents were submitted tothe Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Complaints against the validity of the final election results should be filed within three (3) working days, after the vote counting in the relevant polling station was complete.
Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 N/A
Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Direct public funding
- Last Updated : 2016-10-28 both regularly provided funding and in relation to campaigns
Direct public funding-References:
- Private funding of political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12
National corporations may give out contributions or any other kind of donation, in money or goods, up to a yearly amount of 45 minimum wages established by the Ordinary Budget of the Republic, but only to be spent on research on political parties. An accrual of these contributions during the presidential term (four years) is allowed. Individual citizens can give any amount. Foreign aid is illegal.
Private funding of political parties-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation
- Last Updated : 2016-10-28 Fines - Prison
Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies
- Last Updated : 2016-10-28
EMB
Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:
- Which electoral processes are using ICTs?
- Last Updated : 2016-11-09 Digital voter registration kits/computers, online connected to central database
Which electoral processes are using ICTs? -References:
- When it was introduced
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 N/A
When it was introduced-References:
- Gender equality
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 Female Population: 2,376,679 (2014)
· Is Costa Rica a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)
· Has Costa Rica ratified CEDAW: Yes (4 April 1986)
· Gender Quota: Yes
· Female candidates in this election: Yes
· Number of Female Parliamentarians: 19 (following 2014 elections)
· Human Development Index Position: 69 (2014)
· Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low (2014)
Gender equality-References:
- Aids for disabled or handicapped voters
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 Is Costa Rica a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)
· Has Costa Rica ratified CRPD: Yes (1 October 2008)
· Population with a disability: 716,640 (est.)
Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:
- Voter education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Continuously
Voter education-References:
- National civic education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-22 Conducted by the National Electoral Management Body - Conducted by the Government
National civic education-References:
- EMB Staff education
- Last Updated : 2016-12-12 N/A
EMB Staff education-References:
- Domestic observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International observation
- Last Updated : 2016-12-15
The Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) observed the municipal elections in Costa Rica on February 7, 2016
International observation-References:
- Partnerships/MoUs
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International Activities
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Major challenges to elections
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Measures taken to deal with those Challenges
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03