Info

Djibouti

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	b. No, existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Comments:
Source:	Article 16, Electoral law of 1992
Verified:	2006/11/29

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	h. Not applicable
Comments:	Existing regional boundaries are used.
Source:	Article 16, Electoral law of 1992
Verified:	2006/11/29

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	Existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Source:	Article 16, Electoral law of 1992
Verified:	2006/11/29

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	c. Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments:
Source:	Article 27 of the constitution
Verified:	2005/04/01

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:
Source:	Article 41 of the constitution
Verified:	2005/03/22

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Article 20 of the constitution
Verified:	2005/03/22

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:
Source:	Article 45 of the constitution
Verified:	2005/03/22

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	c. Block Vote
Comments:
Source:	http://www.idea.int/vt/country-view.cfm?countrycode=Dj
Verified:	2005/03/22

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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):	b. Separate legislation
Comments:
Source:	article 26 and 48 of the constitution
Verified:	2005/04/01

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections c. Local elections d. Referendums
Comments:
Source:	Referendum proclamation no. 22/1992
Verified:	2005/04/01

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
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:
Source:	Article 27 of the constitution
Verified:	2005/04/01

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Electoral Management

EM001

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

Name of Institution: Ministry of Interior and Decentralization
                     Independent National Electoral Commission
Website Address: http://www.elec.dj/

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
Comments:	a) Including referendums. For regional elections a specific regional Independent Regional Electoral Commission is set up.
Source:	Décret n°2002-0198/PR/MID, Décret n°2005-0189/PR/MID
Verified:	2007/01/29

EM004

EM005

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	a. For the election period only
Comments:	This applies to the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI). The 1992 Electoral Law assigns that task to a CENI constituted prior to each election, whose 92 members comprise government representatives, including members from the National Assembly, as well as civil society and political party representatives. By law, the CENI is constituted 45 days before the elections and is dissolved 15 days thereafter. CENI is tasked with the responsibility of the development of the electoral list, voter identity cards, and polling day procedures.
Source:	Pre-election observation in the run-up to the presidential elections of 2005, by IFES and IRI; http://pdf.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNADC712.pdf
Verified:	2007/01/29

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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):	g. NGOs/ Civic Organizations i. Media
Comments:
Source:	http://allafrica.com/education/bydate/?n=20
Verified:	2005/05/10

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:	http://allafrica.com/education/bydate/?n=20
Verified:	2005/05/10

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	a. No
Comments:
Source:	http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/50/plenary/a50-332.htm
Verified:	2005/05/10

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:
Source:	electoral code Article 3
Verified:	2005/04/01

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:
Source:	Article 5 of the constitution
Verified:	2005/04/01

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	d. Election Management Body (specify)
Comments:
Source:	http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0411/S00225.htm
Verified:	2005/05/13

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	http://www.elec.dj/
Verified:	2005/04/01

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
Comments:
Source:	electoral code article 41
Verified:	2005/05/05

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	f. Diplomatic staff g. Other
Comments:	anyone who is on the electoral list
Source:	electoral code article 4
Verified:	2005/04/01

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
Comments:
Source:	http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:uvtr8vuwmqoJ:www.presidence.dj/LES%2520TEXTES/arr0206pr05.doc+Election+du+president+de+la+CENI+djibouti&hl=fr&ie=UTF-8
Verified:	2005/05/05

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source:	electoral code article 50
Verified:	2005/05/05

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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) f. Other
Comments:	b) deposit of D.Fr. 500,000 per candidate is required f) Lists of candidatures shall be transmitted to the Ministry of Interior at least 14 days before the start of the election campaign. It should include, i.a., a logotype of the party to be imprinted on the ballot.
Source:	Article 33 and 34, Electoral law of 1992
Verified:	2007/01/10

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 i. Minimum level of literacy j. Other
Comments:	Eligibility: - Qualified electors - age: 23 years - Djibouti citizenship - ability to read, write and speak French or Arabic fluently Incompatibilities: - certain public or government officials - judges - members of the armed, police and security forces
Source:	http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2089_B.htm
Verified:	2007/01/10

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	b. In presidential elections
Comments:	not in legislative elections
Source:	electoral code article 32
Verified:	2005/04/01

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	c. Indirect
Comments:	c) Free media access and printing of posters.
Source:	Article 59, 60, Electoral law of 1992
Verified:	2006/11/29

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	a. Equal funding, regardless of size and previous performance
Comments:	a) All registered parties and candidates are entitled to indirect funding by the state.
Source:	Article 59 and 60, Electoral law of 1992
Verified:	2006/11/29

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA Political Finance Database: http://www.idea.int/parties/finance/db/country_print.cfm?CountryCode=SC
Verified:	2007/01/10

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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:
Source:	electoral code article 51
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request
Comments:
Source:	Decree n°97-0163/PR/MI relating to the mode of organization of elections due on friday 18 December 1997 article 17
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 b. Based on number of candidates put forward in present elections
Comments:
Source:	Elections in Africa A Data Handbook.1999, Edited by Dieter Nohlen, Bernard Thibaut, and Michael Krennerich
Verified:	2005/05/10

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	c. No
Comments:
Source:	http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=6411
Verified:	2005/05/10

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:	g. No information available
Comments:
Source:	http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=6411
Verified:	2005/05/10

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:	C:3 "The Republic of Djibouti shall comprise all persons whom it recognises as members and who accept its duties, without distinction of language, race, sex or religion. National sovereignty shall belong to the Djiboutian people, who shall exercise this sovereignty through its representatives and by way of referendum." C:87 "The President of the Republic and the deputies alike shall have the right to initiate the amendment of the Constitution. For it to be discussed, any parliamentary bill for amendment must be signed by at least one-third of the members of the National Assembly. The government or parliamentary bill for amendment must receive the votes of the majority of members of the National Assembly, and shall become definitive only after approval by referendum, by simple majority of the votes cast. Nevertheless, the referendum procedure may be dispensed with at the decision of the President of the Republic; in this case, the government or parliamentary bill for amendment shall be approved only if it is accepted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the National Assembly."
Source:	The 1992 Constitution of Djibouti, art. 3, 33, 63, 77 and 87 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/11/29

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	The 1992 Constitution of Djibouti, art. 3, 33, 63, 77 and 87 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/11/29

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	The 1992 Constitution of Djibouti, art. 3, 33, 63, 77 and 87 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/11/29

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:	a. Constitutional changes only
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:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/22