Description of Electoral System:

(Courtesy of IFES election guide)

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term. In the Senate 34 members are elected to serve 5-year terms. In the National Assembly 100 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms. Additional seats are appointed to three ethnic Twas and to former chiefs of state; the minimum 30% women representation rule applies as well in the Senate. 100 members of the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. Additional seats may be appointed by the National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure balance of ethnic representation. The Constitution mandated a 60-40% split between Hutus and Tutsis, respectively, and a minimum 30% representation of women.

Electoral Systems Snapshot

(Courtesy of International IDEA)

*Click on links for definitions

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Previous election

(courtesy of wikipedia)

The Republic of Burundi held several elections in 2005. The polls returned the nation to constitutional democratic rule after a devastating civil war that arose from long-standing ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority.

Four of the polls (constitutional referendum; communal, National Assembly and "Hills" elections) were direct elections while two (Senate and presidential elections) were indirect, as they were chosen by communal councellors and the parliament, respectively.