Info

Czech Republic

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	For Senate elections special electoral constituencies are delimited, but for elections to the House of Deputies, regional boundaries are used according to the existing regions(territorial divisions of the state).
Source:	Electoral Act on Elections to Parliament (Law Digest no. 247/1995 as amended, Ch.3, Art.27, 58-59
Verified:	2002/06/26

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population
Comments:	Applies only for boundaries of the Senate constituencies.
Source:	Electoral Act on Elections to the Parliament (Law Digest no. 247/1995 as amended), Art.59
Verified:	2002/06/26

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	a. Legislature (1st chamber)
Comments:	The responsibility belongs to both Chambers of the Parliament. The provisions on electoral boundaries are found in the electoral law.
Source:	Electoral Act on Elections to the Parliament (Law Digest no. 247/1995 as amended) Especially the amendments no. 212/1996 LD and no. 171/2002 LD.
Verified:	2002/06/26

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	d. Indirectly elected by legislature
Comments:	The Head of the Czech Republic is the President of the Republic. The President is elected at a joint meeting of both the House of Deputies and the Senate. There are two possibilities in the Czech Republic to vote for the President--public voting or secret voting. The way the President is elected depends on the decision of the Chambers of Parliament.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 54, 56-58 Section 81, Rules of Procedure of the House of Deputies (Law Digest - act. no. 90/1995, as amended) Schedule to the act no. 90/1995
Verified:	2002/06/26

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	Appointed by President of the Republic. The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President. The President must take notice of whether or not the person who is appointed by him/her would be able from a political point of view to set up a government which will have the confidence of the House of Deputies.
Source:	Constitution, Art.68
Verified:	2002/06/28

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Art.54, 56-58
Verified:	2002/06/12

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	b. Two chambers
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Art.18
Verified:	2002/06/12

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	g. List Proportional Representation
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, Art.18 Section 1, Part 2 of the Electoral Act on Elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (Law Digest no. 247/1995 as amended)
Verified:	2002/06/26

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation d. Regulations or administrative rules
Comments:	The Electoral Law is found in the Constitution, Electoral Acts and in Ministerial notices. The notices are edited by the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Finance. There is not yet a codification of the Electoral Law.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 5-6, 17-20 Electoral Act on Elections to the Parliament (Law Digest no. 247/1995 as amended) Electoral Act on Elections to the Representative Bodies of Regions (Law Digest no. 130/2000 as amended) Electoral Act on Elections to the Local Authorities (Law Digest no. 491/2001) Ministerial notice of the Ministry of Interior (Law Digest no. 233/2000 relating to act no. 247/1995 as amended) Ministerial notice of the Ministry of the Interior (Law Digest no. 152/2000 relating to act no. 130/2000) Ministerial notice of the Ministry of Interior (Law Digest no. 59/2002 relating to act no. 491/2001) Ministerial notice of the Ministry of Finance (Law Digest no. 268/2000 relating to transfers of deposits connected with the conducting of Parliamentary elections) Ministerial notice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (no number given, Law Digest no./2002 relating to list of embassies and consulates which are to be centers for overseas voting for the House of Deputies)
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections b. Regional elections c. Local elections d. Referendums
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Act on Elections to the Parliament (Law Digest no. 247/1995 as amended) Electoral Act on Elections to the Representative Bodies of Regions (Law Digest no. 130/2000 as amended) Electoral Act on Elections to the Local Authorities (Law Digest no. 491/2001) Act on local referendums no.298/1992.
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:	a) Voting is a right not a duty.
Source:	Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Law Digest no. 2/1993)
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	a. Judiciary
Comments:	The competent court is either a regional court or the Supreme Court, depending on what kind of election and the scope of the claim.
Source:	Art.88 of the Act on election to the Parliament of the Czeck Republic. (no. 247/1995 LD)
Verified:	2002/06/26

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: State Electoral Commission 
Website Address: http://www.volby.cz/index_en.htm 	

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/03

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level b. Regional level c. Local level
Comments:	The State Election Commission (SEC) is the national electoral management body for all kinds of public elections held in the state.
Source:	All electoral acts which are in force in the Czeck Republic.
Verified:	2002/06/26

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature d. A national government department
Comments:	The state budget is determined by the House of Deputies (it underwrites the items of the state budget). All public elections are financed through the Ministry of the Interior.
Source:	Competence Act no. 2/1969
Verified:	2002/06/26

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature d. A national government department
Comments:	The expenditures of all electoral bodies inclusive of the SEC are controlled by the House of Deputies, as it controls the budget of the Ministry of the Interior, through which the SEC is funded.
Source:	Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic, pwagnero(a)csu.notes.cz
Verified:	2002/06/11

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	c. For an unspecified period
Comments:	This is with the exception of the Chairman of the SEC (State Election Commission), who is the Minister of the Interior. The other members are appointed by the Chairman from each ministry of the government and serve for an unspecified period. The position of the Chairman depends on the results of the elections to the House of Deputies.
Source:	Act on the elections to the regional representative bodies no. 130/2000 LD and 152/2000 LD.
Verified:	2002/06/26

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body b. Regional Electoral Management Bodies c. Local/County Electoral Management Bodies i. Media
Comments:	a.)The "real electoral education" is prepared by the Ministry of Interior and by the Czech statistics office for the use of the electoral bodies (especially for the members who is responsible for the registration of candidate lists and for members of electoral commissions). a.), b.), c.) The electoral bodies have the duty to inform voters about time and location of voting. Their duty is also to answer questions from voters or organizations about the electoral system and other election related topics. i.) The media offer the most information about elections.
Source:	Art. 9/2 f) and art 15 of the Act on elections to the Parliament no. 247/1995 LD
Verified:	2002/06/26

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:	(interview with EMB official, Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of the Interior) Communication election information is usually done in election time -- or in an election year.
Source:
Verified:	2002/04/09

VE003

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
Comments:	This is the requirement in all public elections.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 18 Chapter 1 of the Electoral Act on Elections to Parliament (no. 247/1995 as amended)
Verified:	2006/11/29

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship
Comments:	Citizenship is a condition for voting, except in elections to local authorities -- non-nationals who have their residence in the locality can vote in it.
Source:	Constitution, Art.18 Section 1/5 of the Electoral Act on Elections to the Parliament (no. 247/1995 as amended) Section 4 of the Electoral Act on Elections to the Local Authorities (no. 491/2000)
Verified:	2006/11/29

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	c. Local Government Authority
Comments:	Voters are registered in the permanent voters lists by local authority or in the special voters list by embassies and consulates abroad.
Source:	LD no. 491/2001 and paragraph 6 Act on elections to the Parliament. (LD no.247/1995)
Verified:	2002/06/26

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The voters register is a duty for electoral bodies ex-officio, in case of the permanent voters list which is kept by the local authorities (so it is compulsory). In case of the special voters list (abroad)it depends on the request of the voter (it is voluntary). Voters have no duty to register themselves.
Source:	Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic, pwagnero(a)csu.notes.cz
Verified:	2006/11/29

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	b. At any polling station in the same voting district c. At any polling station in the same country
Comments:	b.) Voters in elections for the Senate can vote at any polling station in any electoral ward within their constituency. c.) Voters in elections to the House of Deputies can vote at any polling station in the country or abroad at Czech embassies and consulates.
Source:	Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic, pwagnero(a)csu.notes.cz
Verified:	2002/06/26

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	c. Citizens outside the country (including those on vacation)
Comments:	c) Only applies to elections for the House of Deputies. For elections to the Senate citizens residing outside the country must return to the state to vote.
Source:	All czech electoral act which are in force, for example Art.3 of the Act on elections to the Parliament no.247/1995 LD.
Verified:	2002/06/26

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	a. Embassies b. Consulates c. Special polling stations
Comments:	c.) Special polling stations are set up in frame of embassies and consulates of the Czech Republic.
Source:	Art. 3/2 of the Act on elections to the Parliament no. 247/1995 LD.
Verified:	2002/06/26

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source:	Act on elections to the Parliament, paragraph 39 and 68 of the act no. 247/1995
Verified:	2002/06/26

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments:	b) A deposit of 15,000 CZK for a candidate list in each region in the elections to the House of Deputies. It does not matter if it is submitted by a political party or movement or by a coalition of many parties or movements. The deposit is called an "electoral cost contribution."
Source:	Articles 31-34 of Electoral Act on the Elections to Parliament (no. 247/1995 as amended)
Verified:	2002/06/26

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship f. Registration
Comments:	A Czech citizen who is 21 years old (at least on the second day of voting) and has the right to vote can stand as a candidate in elections to the House of Deputies.
Source:	Constitution, Art.19(1) Article 25 of the Electoral Act on Elections to the Parliament (no. 247/1995 as amended)
Verified:	2006/11/15

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:	A candidate not affiliated with a political party or movement can compete in all kinds of elections in the Czech Republic. There are however differences in the formal requirements for doing so.
Source:	Articles 31 and 61 of the Electoral Act on Elections to Parliament (no. 247/1995 as amended) Article 20 of the Electoral Act on Elections to the Local Authorities (no. 491/2001) Article 21 of the Electoral Act on Elections to the Representative Bodies of Regions (no. 130/2000 as amended)
Verified:	2006/11/15

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct c. Indirect
Comments:	A political party or a political movement which gets at least 1,5% of all valid votes in the elections to the House of Deputies obtains the state contribution for the purpose of cover their campaign costs. The constribution is 100 CZK for 1 vote. Further, there are 2 other forms of state funding in the time "between" the elections which are provided according to the act no. 424/1991: contribution for a mandate and the permanent contribution (6 000 000 CZK a year) for party or movement which obtained at least 3% of all valid votes in the elections to the House of Deputies.
Source:	Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministery of Interior, Section of election and association, pwagnero(a)csu.notes.cz International IDEA (2003) "Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns"
Verified:	2006/11/15

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Based on result of previous election
Comments:
Source:	Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic, pwagnero(a)csu.notes.cz
Verified:	2002/06/26

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic, pwagnero(a)csu.notes.cz
Verified:	2002/06/28

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:	The counting of votes starts at polling stations and is done by members of the electoral commissions.
Source:	Art. 40 and art.69 of the Act on the elections to the Parliament no.247/1995 LD.
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	e. Court order
Comments:	The ballots can be recounted only by an independent court in case of a judicial review.
Source:	Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic, pwagnero(a)csu.notes.cz
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	a. Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Comments:
Source:	Act NO. 247 On Elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic, and on Amendments of Certain Other Acts, Dated September 27, 1995 Article 16, (3) http://www.memo98.sk/index.php?base=data/zahr/cz/cz_final.txt
Verified:	2006/11/30

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:	In the Czech Republic the TV debates between candidates are usually conducted before elections. TV debates are not based on law; it is just ordinary practices. Only The Act No. 247/1995 Collections of Laws, on Elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic and on the Amendment of Certain Other Laws, in amendments, according to its section 16 (4) regulates election campaign in TV in such a way that political parties, political movements and coalitions running for elections to the Assembly of Deputies, whose lists of candidates have been registered, shall be allocated a total of 14 hours of free broadcasting time in the Czech Radio and a total of 14 hours of free broadcasting time in the Czech Television, which shall be divided equally among the political parties, political movements and coalitions running for election; the broadcasting time shall be determined by a draw; the responsibility for the content of such programs rests with the political parties, political movements and coalitions.
Source:	Lucie Rodová, Ministry of the interior of the Czeck Republic - Elections and Association Section
Verified:	2006/11/30

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	d. 6-7 days
Comments:	Election forecasts resulting from public-opinion polls shall not be published after the seventh day preceding the day of the elections.
Source:	Source: Act NO. 247 On Elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic, and on Amendments of Certain Other Acts, Dated September 27, 1995 Article 16 (5)
Verified:	2006/11/30

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Article 2(2) of the Constitution - 1/1993 Coll. Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Article 2(2) of the Constitution - 1/1993 Coll Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/11/27

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	b. Only other issues than constitutional changes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22