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System of government

Last Updated : 2016-07-27

The Constitution organize the State as a Presidential Republic, adopting the classic division in Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches, inside of a independence system with equilibrium and mutual control. ¹

 

The Executive Branch is composed by the President of the Republic and the Vice-President (VP), who has the responsibility to substitute the President either temporally or permanently. Both President and VP are elected in a single election, with the direct vote.²

System of government-References:

^{1 Article 3, 1992 Constitution.} 

^{2. Articles 226, 227, 228, 229, 230 of the Constitution of 1992.}

Total population

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

6.672.631

Total population-References:

Paraguay Census 2012

Total area (in square kilo meters)

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

406.752 km²

Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:

 

Number of registered voters

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

Registered voters for the 2015 local elections: 3.947.574 voters available to vote.

Number of registered voters-References:

Varios. (2015, October). Resumen Informativa Electoral. Tribunal Superior de Justicia Electoral. Retrieved from http://tsje.gov.py/libros/

 

Number of registered political parties

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

Number of political parties registered: 23 political parties.

Number of registered political parties-References:

Varios. (2015, October). Resumen Informativo Electoral. Tribunal Superior de Justicia Electoral. Retrieved from http://tsje.gov.py/libros/

Number of polling stations

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

Number of polling stations available for the 2015 local election: 1.075 polling stations.

Number of polling stations-References:

Varios. (2015, October). Resumen Informativo Electoral. Tribunal Superior de Justicia Electoral. Retrieved from http://tsje.gov.py/libros/

Average number of voters per polling station

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

The average number of votes is: 200 voters per polling station. 

Average number of voters per polling station-References:

 

Voting age

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

Voting age: 18

Voting age-References:

?Electoral Law 834/96 

Elected Offices

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Election system

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

List Proportional Representation 

Election system-References:

 

Terms of office

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.

President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.

In the Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) 45 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms. In the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) 80 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms

 

Terms of office-References:

 

Election

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

Local Elections

Election-References:

?Official website. 

Date

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

2015, November 15th.

Political parties in the elections

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Number of elected candidates

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

Number of mayors elected: 250 elected mayors.

Number of municipal board members: 2640 full members and 2640 alternate members.

Number of elected candidates-References:

Varios. (2015, October). Resumen Informativo Electoral. Tribunal Superior de Justicia Electoral. Retrieved from http://tsje.gov.py/libros/

?

Voter turnout

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

The turnout came to 50%, meaning 1.973.787 voters.

Voter turnout-References:

 

Number of ballots cast

Last Updated : 2016-09-02

There were 2 (two) ballot papers: one for mayor and one for board members.

Number of ballots cast-References:

 

Legal framework for elections

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

Separate legislation

 

Legal framework for elections-References:

 

Legal provisions

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

C?digo Electoral Paraguayo, art?culos 259-275

 

Legal provisions-References:

 

Referenda

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

C?digo Electoral Paraguayo, art?culos 259-275

 

Referenda-References:

 

People’s Initiatives

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

C?digo Electoral Paraguayo, art?culos 266

 

People’s Initiatives-References:

 

Recall Votes

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

N/A

 

Recall Votes-References:

 

Official name

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

Tribunal Superior de Justicia Electoral de Paraguay 

Official name -References:

 

Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

Independent

 

Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:

 

EMB budget source

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

The President
The legislature

 

EMB budget source-References:

 

EMB expenditure audit

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

Another organ within the national government

 

EMB expenditure audit-References:

 

Number of EMB members (commissioners)

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

1 - 10 members

 

Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:

 

Term of EMB members (commissioners)

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

For an unspecified period

 

Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:

 

Who appoints members (commissioners)?

Last Updated : 2016-10-25

Executive
Legislature
Other 

Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:

 

Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Administrative divisions

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

divided into 17 departments and one capital district

Administrative divisions -References:

 

Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used

 

Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:

 

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries

 

Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:

 

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

Legislature (1st chamber)
Electoral Management Body  

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 : 2016-11-02

It requires that their candidates were elected in internal elections of the parties or political movements that presents them

 

Requirements for party registration-References:

 

Candidate nomination

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

independent candidates can compete in both presidential and legislative elections 

Candidate nomination-References:

 

Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

- Requirement

Age
Citizenship
Country of birth
Registration

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 : 2016-11-02

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 : 2016-11-02

Yes

 

Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)-References:

 

Who is responsible for the voters list

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

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 : 2016-11-24

The Electoral Code regulates the manual vote, but by legal authorization a pilot plan for the use of electronic ballot boxes in a determined number of districts was arranged.

 

Marking method-References:

 

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 : 2016-11-09

The polling stations

 

Counting Location-References:

 

Counting period

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

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 : 2016-11-02

Never recounted

 

When are ballots recounted?-References:

 

Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

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 : 2016-11-02

Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance

 

Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:

 

Television debates

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

no

 

Television debates-References:

 

Blackout period for release of election survey results

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

10 or more days

 

Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:

 

Electoral dispute resolution body

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

the Electoral Court, and Electoral Tribunals

 

Electoral dispute resolution body-References:

 

Electoral dispute resolution mechanism

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

 

Art. 184:

“Son obligaciones de los miembros de la mesa receptora de voto:

f) Decidir en el acto todas las reclamaciones, consultas y dudasque se susciten, mantener el orden en el recinto del sufragio y, en su caso,recurrir a la polic?a para expulsar, sin perjuicio de las sanciones de la ley,a toda persona en estado de ebriedad, que porte armas o que pretenda destruirmaterial electoral, coaccionar,

sobornar a los sufragantes, faltar al respetoa los miembros de la Mesa, o que realice cualquier acto o hecho que viole lalibertad, pureza y garant?a del sufragio;”

 

Art. 188:

“Los apoderados tienen derecho a accederlibremente a los locales electorales a examinar el desarrollo de lasoperaciones de votaci?n y de escrutinio,a formular reclamaciones y protestas y recibir las certificaciones queprev? este C?digo.”

 

Art. 190:

“Elveedor de mesa deber? estar inscripto en el padr?n distrital y tienederecho a:

b) Presentarlas reclamaciones escritas que juzgue convenientes, recibiendo constanciade la presentaci?n efectuada;”

 

Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:

 

Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Direct public funding

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

both regularly provided and in relation to campaigns

Direct public funding-References:

 

Private funding of political parties

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- If so, is there limit on the amount a donor can contribute to candidate or political party

Regulation, monitoring and investigation

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

Sanctions include Fines, Loss of public funding, and Deregistration of party

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

EMB 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies-References:

 

Which electoral processes are using ICTs?

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Voter registration and identification

- E-voting

- Processing of results

- Election administration

When it was introduced

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Gender equality

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

14 of 80 (18%) seats in the C?mara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies are held by women

Gender equality-References:

 

Aids for disabled or handicapped voters

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

 Is Paraguay a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Paraguay ratified CRPD: Yes (3 September 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 969,850 (est.)

 

Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:

 

Voter education

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

Continuously

 

Voter education-References:

 

National civic education

Last Updated : 2016-11-09

conducted by the National Electoral Management Body

 

National civic education-References:

 

EMB Staff education

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Domestic observation

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

International observation

Last Updated : 2016-11-24

The OAS Electoral Observation Mission highlighted in particular the effort made to move forward in the guarantee of the political rights of Paraguayans represented by the implementation of the “accessible vote” program, which facilitates voting by people with disabilities, pregnant women and senior citizens.

 

The EOM deployed 24 international experts and observers, who visited 550 voting centers on election day. The observers witnessed that the centers opened on time and had all the necessary materials. In addition, the Mission highlighted as one of the strong points of this electoral process the speed with which the preliminary electoral results were compiled and announced.
 

The EOM, headed by the former Chief of Staff of the General Secretariat of the Organization, Ambassador Hugo de Zela, presented a preliminary report with observations and recommendations on the process. “The OAS is able to provide effective support in the implementation of the recommendations of the EOM to strengthen democratic institutions in Paraguay,” said Ambassador De Zela. 

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