Bermuda
- Boundary Delimitation
- Direct Democracy
- Electoral Management
- Electoral Systems
- Legislative Framework
- Media and Elections
- Parties and Candidates
- Vote Counting
- Voter Education
- Voting Operations
- Voter Registration
Boundary Delimitation
BD01 Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
a. Yes
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:11:40 UTC
BD03 On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
a. "Equality" of population
e. Geographic size of district
g. Other
Comments: g. To take into account as reasonable as possible that each constituency is a contiguous unit.
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:13:35 UTC
Electoral Management
EM01 Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:
a. Name of Institution Parliamentary Registry Office (PRO)
b. Full Address Valerie T. Scott Building, 60 Reid Street Hamilton, BERMUDA HM12
c. Telephone 441-293-8683 (VOTE)
d. Facsimile 441-292-0207
e. Email krscott@gov.bm/parreg@gov.bm
f. Website Address www.elections.gov.bm
g. Name and Title of Chairperson/President Kenneth R. Scott, Parliamentary Registrar
h. Information Officer Ms Nea Talbot
i. Official language of the electoral law governing national elections English
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:46:44 UTC
EM02 Does this national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
a. National level
c. Local level
Comments: c. Local by-elections
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:56:32 UTC
EM03 The national electoral management body reports to:
f. Other
Comments: f. Governor
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:56:32 UTC
EM04 The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
c. The legislature
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:56:32 UTC
EM05 The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
g. Other
Comments: g. Parliamentary Registry Office
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:56:32 UTC
EM06 The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
c. For an unspecified period
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:56:32 UTC
Legislative Framework
LF01 What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
a. Part of Constitution
b. Separate legislation
Comments: The Parliamentary Election Act 1978
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:35:58 UTC
LF03 The national electoral law covers:
a. National elections
c. Local elections
d. Referendums
Comments: c. Local by-elections
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:35:58 UTC
LF04 Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
a. Voting is voluntary
Source: International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
Last updated: 2006-11-17 16:34:34 UTC
Media and Elections
ME01 Please provide information about the person completing the questionnaire.
a. Name and Title: Kenneth R. Scott
b. Job Title: Parliamentary Registrar
c. Organisation: Parliamentary Registry Office PRO
d. Contact Address: Valerie T. Scott Building, 60 Reid Street Hamilton, BERMUDA HM12
e. Telephone: 441-293-8683 (VOTE)
f. Facsimile: 441-292-0207
g. Email: krscott@gov.bm, parreg@gov.bm
Comments: Website Address: www.elections.gov.bm Information Officer: Ms Nea Talbot
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME02 Which of the following types of radio stations are present at a national level in your country?
c. Privately owned
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME03 Which of the following types of television stations are present at a national level in your country?
c. Privately owned
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME04 Which of the following types of daily and weekly newspapers are present at a national level in your country?
c. Privately owned
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME11 What laws, if any, guarantee freedom of access to public information for representatives of the media?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME13 What are the laws, if any, which govern the operations of the public broadcaster?
Specify the date of the latest version (including latest amendments)
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME16 In your opinion, upon which types of media at national level in your country do citizens most rely as a source of information? Mark the most important source with 1, and the second most important source with 2:
c. Private radio
f. Private television
g. Print media
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME18 What are the laws, if any, that provide for the safeguards for editorial autonomy in relation to the public broadcaster(s)?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME19 What are the laws, if any, which govern the granting of broadcasting licenses/frequencies to private broadcasters?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME22 What are the legal conditions, if any, under which the activities of a media outlet may be suspended?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME24 What legal instruments are used to regulate media coverage of elections?
b. Secondary legislation (e.g. regulations)
Source: Broadcasting Commissioners Act, 1953 & The Political Broadcasting Directions 1980) with amendments 2003.
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME26 What form does the responsibility, if any, of the EMB to regulate media coverage of elections take?
d. Other (specify)
Comments: There are no provisions for the Parliamentary Registry Office or the Parliamentary Election Act (1978) to regulate the media.
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:52:40 UTC
ME37 What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
a. Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME38 What, if any, is the maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
b. The law does not specify any limits on paid advertising X
Comments: The law does not specify any limits on paid advertising
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME42 What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to individual candidates (legislative)?
h. Not applicable
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME50 What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to presidential candidates?
h. Not applicable
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:29:08 UTC
ME55 What, if any, is the maximum amount that a presidential candidate is permitted to spend on paid advertising?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME56 What are the laws, if any, which govern the disclosure of campaign advertising expenditures by political parties and candidates?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME57 What, if any, is the maximum amount that a media outlet can charge parties/candidates for advertising during the campaign?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME58 How does this maximum amount (identified in question C.15.1) affect the political participation of smaller or newly formed parties?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME59 Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
c. No
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME60 What legal requirements, if any, regulate the participation of candidates or party representatives in media debates?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME62 What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
g. Not applicable
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:30:40 UTC
ME65 When are the media, by law, allowed to report preliminary election results?
c. After all polls close, after official results are available
Comments: After polls close and official results are released, returning officers are allowed to inform the media.
Source: No specific law
Last updated: 2006-04-11 16:29:08 UTC
Parties and Candidates
PC01 What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments: b. A deposit of $250.00 for each candidate deposited with accountant general on Nomination Day.
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:22:29 UTC
PC02 What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 2)?
b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments: b. A deposit of $250.00 for each candidate deposited with accountant general on Nomination Day.
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:22:29 UTC
PC03 What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
b. Citizenship
Comments: Qualification & Disqualification under Sections 29&30 of the Bermuda Constituitional Order 1968. (see also Section 5 of the PE Act 1978)
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:22:29 UTC
PC04 What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 2)?
j. Other
Comments: b. A deposit of $250.00 for each candidate deposited with accountant general on Nomination Day; and to be duly nominated through Nomination procedure.
Source: The Parliamentary Act (1978)
Last updated: 2006-04-11 17:06:31 UTC
PC05 What are the legal qualifications for becoming a candidate at presidential elections?
k. Not applicable
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:22:29 UTC
PC08 Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
d. In legislative elections (Chamber 2)
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-15 08:07:36 UTC
PC12 Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
a. No
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:22:29 UTC
PC15 What is the basis of the public funding?
f. Not applicable
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:22:29 UTC
Vote Counting
VC04 Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
a. At the polling stations
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:25:59 UTC
VC08 How are the initial/preliminary polling results transmitted and communicated to the different levels?
b. By telephone
f. By computer
g. Internet
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:25:59 UTC
VC11 Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
d. By request
Source: The Parliamentary Election Act (1978) on re-count of votes by request. Part VIII, section 56.
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:25:59 UTC
VC12 If automatically recounted, what is the trigger?
e. Not applicable
Last updated: 2006-04-11 17:08:10 UTC
Voter Education
VE01 Who conducts voter education and information campaigns at the national elections (informing where, when and how to register and vote)?
a. National Electoral Management Body
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:15:20 UTC
VE02 At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
a. Continuously
Comments: Continuously, with media emphasis around April & May of each year. In preparation for the publication of the annual June register.
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:15:20 UTC
Voting Operations
VO02 Is there a code of conduct for election officials?
a. Yes
Comments: Under various sections of the PE Act 1978
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:24:01 UTC
VO03 Where can electors vote?
a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:24:01 UTC
VO04 Who can vote from outside the country?
a. Outside the country voting is not permitted
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:24:01 UTC
VO05 If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
g. Not applicable
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:24:01 UTC
VO10 Is there a maximum allowable voter capacity of a polling station for the national elections?
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:24:01 UTC
VO11 How do electors cast their votes?
a. By manually marking the ballot
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:24:01 UTC
Voter Registration
VR01 What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
c. 18
Comments: 18 years
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:18:18 UTC
VR02 Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
a. Citizenship
b. Period of Residence
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:18:18 UTC
VR03 What restrictions on registering to vote and voting exist in the country?
a. Criminal Incarceration
c. Detention
d. Mental disability
h. Other
Comments: h. Disqualified from voting under section 71 of the Parliamentary Act (1978).
Source: Section 71, the Parliamentary Act (1978)
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:18:18 UTC
VR04 Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
d. Election Management Body (specify)
Comments: d. Parliamentary Registry Office (PRO).
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:18:18 UTC
VR06 How frequently is the voters register updated?
a. Continuously
Comments: Register published every June 15th.
Source: Randy Scott, Parliamentary Registry
Last updated: 2006-12-14 10:18:18 UTC
May 20, 2008 07:18 AM
