A WEB

System of government

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

- Republic

- Unicameral(5years)

System of government-References:

 

Total population

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

573,311

 

Total population-References:

 

Total area (in square kilo meters)

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

165,000 km²

 

Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:

 

Number of registered voters

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

356,223

 

Number of registered voters-References:

 

Number of registered political parties

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

25 parties

 

Number of registered political parties-References:

 

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 : 2016-08-24

18 years old

 

Voting age-References:

 

Elected Offices

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

D?si Bouterse

 

Elected Offices-References:

 

Election system

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-      The President is elected indirectly by members of the National Assembly; a two-thirds majority (34 members) is required for such an election.

-      List Proportional Representation (Chamber 1)

 

Election system-References:

 

Terms of office

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

5 years

 

Terms of office-References:

 

Election

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

National Assembly

 

Election-References:

 

Date

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

2015. 05. 25.

 

Date-References:

 

Political parties in the elections

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-      National Democratic Party (26 seats)

-      Progressive Reform Party (18 seats)

-      A combination (5 seats)

-      Party for Democracy and Development through Unity (1 seat)

-      Progressive Workers’ and Farmers’ Union (1 seat)

*Total 25 parties were registered for election but only five parties won any seats.

 

Political parties in the elections-References:

 

Number of elected candidates

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voter turnout

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

73%

 

Voter turnout-References:

 

Number of ballots cast

Last Updated : 2016-10-26

259,030 

Number of ballots cast-References:

 

Legal framework for elections

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

Part of Constitution - Separate legislation

Legal framework for elections-References:

 

Legal provisions

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

Constitution, Art. 186:

 

Legal provisions-References:

 

Referenda

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

Constitution, Art. 186

Referenda-References:

 

People’s Initiatives

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

People’s Initiatives-References:

 

Recall Votes

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Recall Votes-References:

 

Official name

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

Independent Electoral Council of Suriname

 

Official name -References:

 

Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

Independent

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

 

EMB budget source

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-      The legislature. The remunerations for the Chairman and the members of the Electoral Council, as well as the fee attendance money for the substituting members for each meeting in which they participate shall be determined by state decree. The salary of the secretary of the Electoral Council shall be determined by State Decree.

 

EMB budget source-References:

 

EMB expenditure audit

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-      The legislature. Before 1 April of each year, the Electoral Council shall draw up a report for the Government and the National Assembly regarding its activities in the past official year.

 

EMB expenditure audit-References:

 

Number of EMB members (commissioners)

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

10

 

Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:

 

Term of EMB members (commissioners)

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

6 years

 

Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:

 

Who appoints members (commissioners)?

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-      The members of the Independent Electoral Council are appointed and discharged by the President. The President shall appoint the Chairman and deputy Chairman, as well as the secretary.

 

Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:

 

Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:

 

Administrative divisions

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

divided into 10 districts.

Administrative divisions -References:

 

Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-      existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used

-      For the election of the members of the National Assembly, Suriname is divided into electoral districts whose boundaries correspond with the boundaries of the current district division. For the election of the members of the Local Councils, the districts are divided into constituencies whose boundaries are specified by separate decree.

 

 

Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:

 

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-      Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries

 

Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:

 

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

The division of Suriname in electoral districts shall be determined by law.

 

Body responsible for drawing boundaries-References:

 

Requirements on the right to vote

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-      those who do not have the right to vote under an irrevocable court order;

-      those who have been deprived of their freedom by law;

-      those who, under an irrevocable court order on account of insanity or frailty of intellectual faculties, have lost control over their property.

 

Requirements on the right to vote-References:

 

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 : 2016-12-02

Signature requirement - Other

 

Requirements for party registration-References:

 

Candidate nomination

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

 

-      On the day of nomination of the candidates for members of the National Assembly, lists of candidates may be submitted at the office of the Central Polling Authority from 08.00 hours until 15.00 hours.

-      At least fourteen days before the day of nomination of the candidates, public notice is given hereof by the Central Polling Authority.

 

Candidate nomination-References:

 

Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)

Last Updated : 2016-12-06

Requirement 

age: 21 years 

Suriname citizenship 

residence in the constituency where running for at least 2 years 

member of a political party

nomination by political party 

support by specified number of electors

Candidate Registration (National Assembly members) -References:

 

Candidate registration deposit

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

- Amount of fee

- Return of fee

Uncontested Election

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Uncontested Election -References:

 

Preparation of the voters list

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

Outside the country voting is not permitted 

Preparation of the voters list-References:

 

Whether the registration is compulsory (or not)

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Who is responsible for the voters list

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Voters list preparation procedure

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

Inspection and objection procedure

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-       Everyone may request in writing of the Minister in charge of Home Affairs to have a correction of and/or supplement to the voters' lists. The minister shall decide on this request within five days. This request must be made at the latest on the twenty-fifth day proceeding the day of the nomination of the candidates.

-       Within ten days after publication of the President's decision, each person concerned may appeal the decision with the Judge of the First Cantonal Court by means of a petition in which the reasons are stated, and on submission of the required evidence and a copy of the decision concerned.

-       The procedure is free of administrative costs and fees.

 

Inspection and objection procedure -References:

 

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 : 2016-08-24

 

-       Start of voting

: The voter shall present his polling card at the polling station if such a card was issued to him. The polling station shall thereupon inspect the voter's fingers for traces of election ink. If, according to the polling station, traces of election ink appear on one or more of the voter's fingers, the voter shall not be permitted to cast his vote.

: If no election ink is detected on the voter's fingers, he shall be admitted to the polling only after he has dipped the extreme joint of the little finger of his left hand in election ink.

: The ballot is handed over after the chairman, in the presence of the voter, has placed his signature on the side that bears the state seal. Two members of the polling station shall record the number of ballots issued.

 

-       End of voting

: Before the voter may deposit the ballot in the ballot box, the chairman shall ascertain without touching the ballot that the ballot bears, on the outer side, the prescribed seal and mark as well as his signature.

: A member of the polling station committee shall record, by placing his initials beside the voter's name on a copy of the official voters' list, that the voter has participated in the polling.

: A voter may, if he has made a mistake in filing in the ballot, request another ballot only once, provided that he returns the first ballot that was handed to him.

Voting Procedures -References:

 

Marking method

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

Red pencil

 

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 : 2016-05-03

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 : 2016-12-02

By request

 

When are ballots recounted?-References:

 

Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?

Last Updated : 2016-10-26

Outside the country voting is not permitted

 

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 : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:

 

Television debates

Last Updated : 2016-10-26

legislative elections

 

Television debates-References:

 

Blackout period for release of election survey results

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:

 

Electoral dispute resolution body

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

EMB

 

Electoral dispute resolution body-References:

 

Electoral dispute resolution mechanism

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:

 

Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:

 

Direct public funding

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

N/A

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

N/A

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation-References:

 

Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies

Last Updated : 2016-11-02

N/A 

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 : 2016-12-02

N/A

 

When it was introduced-References:

 

Gender equality

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

  Female Population: 258,283 (2010)

·         Is Suriname a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Suriname ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (1 March 1993)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 5 (following the 2010 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 103 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Gender equality-References:

 

Aids for disabled or handicapped voters

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

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

·         Has Suriname ratified CRPD: No

·         Population with a disability: 77,721 (est.)

 

Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:

 

Voter education

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

Election time only

 

Voter education-References:

 

National civic education

Last Updated : 2016-08-24

-       conducted by NGOs/ Civic Organizations/ Religious Institutions

 

National civic education-References:

 

EMB Staff education

Last Updated : 2016-12-06

N/A

 

EMB Staff education-References:

 

Domestic observation

Last Updated : 2016-05-03

International observation

Last Updated : 2016-12-02

The Organization of American States has begun the deployment of an Electoral Observation Mission (OAS/EOM) to observe the general elections in Suriname on May 25, 2015.

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