Vanuatu
- System of government
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
- Republic.
- Presidential system.
-Unicameral. In the Parliament 52 members
are elected by single non-transferable vote to serve 4-year terms.
System of government-References:
- Total population
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
272,264 (July 2015)
Total population-References:
- Total area (in square kilo meters)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
12,189㎢
Total area (in square kilo meters)-References:
- Number of registered voters
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26 200,159
Number of registered voters-References:
- Number of registered political parties
- Last Updated : 2016-11-29
| Eligible by number of seats won | |
| - Party of Our Land (Vanua'aku Pati) | |
| - People's Progressive Party | |
| - Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) | |
| - Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati, GJP) | |
| - Vanuatu National United Party | |
| - Green Confederation | |
| - Nagriamel | |
| - Reunification of Movement for Change | |
| - Iauko Group | |
| - Natatok | |
| - Melanesian Progressive Party | |
| - Vanuatu Progressive Development Party | |
| - Vanuatu Liberal Democratic Party | |
| - Peoples Service Party | |
| - Vanuatu Republican Party (VRP) | |
| - Vanuatu National Party | |
| Eligible by popular votes won | |
| - Vanuatu Presidential Party | |
| - Vanuatu Democratic Party | |
| - National Community Association | |
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 : 2016-08-26 18 years old.
Voting age-References:
- Elected Offices
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
Elected Offices-References:
- Election system
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 Single Non-Transferable Vote
Election system-References:
- Terms of office
- Last Updated : 2016-10-05 In the Parliament, 52 members are elected in 8 single-seat and 10 multi-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote to serve 4-year terms.
Terms of office-References:
- Election
- Last Updated : 2016-10-11
Vanuatuan general election, 2016
Election-References:
- Date
- Last Updated : 2016-10-11 22 January 2016
Date-References:
- Political parties in the elections
- Last Updated : 2016-10-11 36 political parties (2016)
Political parties in the elections-References:
- Number of elected candidates
- Last Updated : 2016-10-11 All 52 seats in Parliament
Number of elected candidates-References:
- Voter turnout
- Last Updated : 2016-10-11 56%
Voter turnout-References:
- Number of ballots cast
- Last Updated : 2016-10-11 112,746
Number of ballots cast-References:
- Legal framework for elections
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
There are provisions in the Constitution on
elections. The main electoral law is the Representation of the People Act. In
addition, the President in consultation with the Electoral Commission
determines the electoral constituencies and the number of seats per constituency.
Legal framework for elections-References:
- Legal provisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-24
Constitution, art. 86:
86. Amendments requiring support of referendums
A bill for an amendment of a provision of the Constitution regarding the status of Bislama, English and French, the electoral system, or the parliamentary system, passed by Parliament under Article 85, shall not come into effect unless it has been supported in a national referendum.
Legal provisions-References:
- Referenda
- Last Updated : 2016-11-24
Mandatory (No provisions for optional referenda in the Constitution.)
Referenda-References:
- People’s Initiatives
- Last Updated : 2016-11-24 N/A
People’s Initiatives-References:
- Recall Votes
- Last Updated : 2016-11-24 N/A
Recall Votes-References:
- Official name
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
Electoral Office of the Republic of Vanuatu
Official name -References:
- Mission, Vision, Key Objectives, Functions
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)
- Last Updated : 2016-10-11 Independent
Type of EMB(independent, governmental, mixed)-References:
- EMB budget source
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
The Commission and its Electoral Office are financed through an
annual appropriation from Parliament . There is also a tradition of donor
funding of certain aspects of the election process.
EMB budget source-References:
- EMB expenditure audit
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26 The Principal Electoral Officer shall in particular be responsible for control of electoral expenditure.
EMB expenditure audit-References:
- Number of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26 The Electoral Commission is composed of 3 members.
Number of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Term of EMB members (commissioners)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
5 years.
Term of EMB members (commissioners)-References:
- Who appoints members (commissioners)?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
The Electoral Commission members are
selected by the President in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission.
Who appoints members (commissioners)?-References:
- Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
- Last Updated : 2016-12-23 N/A
Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson-References:
- Administrative divisions
- Last Updated : 2016-11-23
divided into six provinces since 1994. The names in English of all provinces are derived from the initial letters of their constituent islands:
Administrative divisions -References:
- Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
-The Electoral Commission shall divide the constituencies into such number of polling districts as it shall consider fit 17 multi-member electoral constituencies.
Delimitation of constituencies(electoral district) -References:
- Criteria for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
The six provinces and two municipalities of the country are delimited into six single-member and 11 multi-member electoral districts, containing altogether over 309 polling stations. There are severe disparities between the electoral districts in terms of size of population, resources and geographical features.
Criteria for drawing boundaries-References:
- Body responsible for drawing boundaries
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
The parliamentary seats and constituencies established by the Representative Assembly (Constituencies and Membership) Regulation No. 22 of 1979 shall remain the parliamentary seats and constituencies of Vanuatu until changed or replaced by an Order made by the President acting on the advice of the Electoral Commission.
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 : 2016-08-26
The Constitution allows political parties to form freely. There is no legal provision for the registration of political parties, though the Electoral Office maintains a registry.
Requirements for party registration-References:
- Candidate nomination
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- Nomination by political parties
- Self nomination (independents)
- Candidate Registration (National Assembly members)
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
- Requirement
: Subject to section 23 a person shall be eligible to stand as a candidate for election to Parliament if he is not disqualified from voting; has not received a sentence including a suspended sentence of a term or terms of imprisonment which has not ended is not an undischarged bankrupt; has attained 25 years of age and is a citizen.
- Period
- Method
- Application form
- Acceptance and notice
- Restriction/Prohibition on candidate 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 : 2016-05-03
- 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 : 2016-05-03
- 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 : 2016-08-30 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 : 2016-08-30 Preliminary count of all ballots in ballot box - Number of ballots in box reconciled against number of voters - Number of ballots reconciled against ballots initially received (minus spoilt and unused) - Each ballot paper held up for public scrutiny, with name of party/candidate called out loud - Double tallying as voters are being called out - Tallying by party representative and/or observers as votes are being called out - Sorted into piles according to individual party/candidate - Counted by hand - Copies of results are provided to party agents
Counting Procedures-References:
- When are ballots recounted?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 By request - Court order
When are ballots recounted?-References:
- Who is eligible to vote for overseas voting?
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
Citizens 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 : 2016-08-26
Special polling stations (specified in electoral roll) by proxy, plus one overseas polling station in Noum?a, New Caledonia.
Where to vote-References:
- Voting procedure for early voting
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
By manually picking and ing a simple ballot into a ballot envelope before depositing into the ballot box.
Voting procedure for early voting-References:
- 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 : 2016-08-26
There are no provisions for either free broadcast time or free printed advertisement space to be allocated to political parties.
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time-References:
- Television debates
- Last Updated : 2016-11-29 N/A
Television debates-References:
- Blackout period for release of election survey results
- Last Updated : 2016-08-26
There are no references to any blackout period in the Electoral Law.
Blackout period for release of election survey results-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution body
- Last Updated : 2016-11-03 Court of general jurisdiction (including Supreme Court)
Electoral dispute resolution body-References:
- Electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-11-24
Republicof Vanuatu Representation of the People Act 1982 (as amended 2006) ? Part 16 ?Election Petitions, 57, p.18
57.Time for presentation of petitions
(1) Subject to subsection (2) an electionpetition shall be presented within 21 days of the publication in the Gazette of the results of the election to which the petition relates.
(2) If a petition alleges a specificpayment of money or other reward after an election by or on the account of aperson whose election is disputed, the petition may be presented within 21 days of the alleged payment.
(3) The time limit provided for in thissection shall not be extended.
Electoral dispute resolution mechanism-References:
- Alternative electoral dispute resolution mechanism
- Last Updated : 2016-12-23 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 : 2016-05-03
- Regulation, monitoring and investigation bodies
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- 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 : 2016-11-24
Gender equality-References:
- Aids for disabled or handicapped voters
- Last Updated : 2016-11-23
Aids for disabled or handicapped voters -References:
- Voter education
- Last Updated : 2016-11-29 N/A
Voter education-References:
- National civic education
- Last Updated : 2016-08-30 conducted by the National Electoral Management Body
National civic education-References:
- EMB Staff education
- Last Updated : 2016-12-07 N/A
EMB Staff education-References:
- Domestic observation
- Last Updated : 2016-05-03
- International observation
- Last Updated : 2016-12-01 At the invitation of the Government of Vanuatu, the Pacific Islands Forum has deployed a team of electoral observers to Port Vila, Vanuatu to observe the national elections which will be held on 22 January 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