Info

Mauritania

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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:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	d. Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	b. Legislature (2nd chamber)
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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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:	Constitution, art. 26
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	The President appoints the Prime Minister.
Source:	Constitution, art. 30
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, art. 23
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	b. Two chambers
Comments:	Parliament is composed of two representative assemblies: the National Assembly and the Senate.
Source:	Constitution, art. 46
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	d. Two-Round System
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA: Table of Electoral Systems Worldwide (http://www.idea.int/esd/world.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/29

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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 c. Decree d. Regulations or administrative rules
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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Electoral Management

EM001

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

Name of Institution: Independent National Electoral Commission
Website Address: http://www.ceni.mr/Ceni/home 

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/05

(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:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	e. Another organ within the national government
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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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 d. National Government e. Regional Governments f. Local Governments g. NGOs/ Civic Organizations h. Political parties/ candidates i. Media
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, conducted by the National Electoral Management Body c. Yes, conducted by the Regional Electoral Management Bodies d. Yes, conducted by the Local/County Electoral Management Bodies e. Yes, conducted by the Government f. Yes, conducted by the Regional Governments g. Yes, conducted by the Local Governments h. Yes, conducted by NGOs/ Civic Organizations i. Yes, conducted by Political Parties/ Candidates j. Yes, conducted by the Media
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:	18 years
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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 b. Period of Residence
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	a. Central Government Department (specify)
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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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:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	a. Outside the country voting is not permitted
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	g. No information available
Comments:	Voting outside the country is not permitted.
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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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):	d. No registration required
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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 g. Nationality group
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct c. Indirect
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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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:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request e. Court order
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
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):	b. Based on number of candidates put forward in present elections
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	c. No
Comments:
Source:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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:	Ahmed Ould Lefghih, General Secretary, National Independent Electoral Commission
Verified:	2007/01/18

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:I:Art2 "(1) The people shall be the source of all power. (2) The national sovereignty belongs to the people which exercises it through its elected representatives and through referendum." C:II:Art38 "The President of the Republic, on any question of national importance, may have recourse to the people through a referendum." C:V:Art78 "1) Peace treaties, union treaties, commerce treaties, treaties or accords concerning an international organization, treaties which require the finances of the State, treaties which modify provisions of a legislative nature, treaties concerning the status of persons, and treaties concerning the borders of the State may only he ratified by a law. (2) They may take effect only after being ratified or approved. No cession, no exchange, and no annexation of territory is valid without the consent of the people who shall decide through referendum. (3) In the case set forth in the last paragraph of Article 2, the required majority is four-fifths of the votes cast." C:VI:Art85 "The Constitutional Council evaluates the legality of the referendum and announces the results." C:XI:Art100 "The revision of the Constitution is complete when approved by a simple majority of the votes cast in a referendum."
Source:	The 1991 Constitution of Mauritania, art. 2, 38, 78, 85 and 100 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/12/30

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:V:Art78 "1) Peace treaties, union treaties, commerce treaties, treaties or accords concerning an international organization, treaties which require the finances of the State, treaties which modify provisions of a legislative nature, treaties concerning the status of persons, and treaties concerning the borders of the State may only he ratified by a law. (2) They may take effect only after being ratified or approved. No cession, no exchange, and no annexation of territory is valid without the consent of the people who shall decide through referendum. (3) In the case set forth in the last paragraph of Article 2, the required majority is four-fifths of the votes cast." C:XI:Art100 "The revision of the Constitution is complete when approved by a simple majority of the votes cast in a referendum."
Source:	The 1991 Constitution of Mauritania, art. 85 and 100 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/12/30

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	C:II:Art38 "The President of the Republic, on any question of national importance, may have recourse to the people through a referendum."
Source:	The 1991 Constitution of Mauritania, art. 38 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2006/12/30

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:	2009/10/23

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:	2009/10/23

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:	2009/10/23

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:	2009/10/23

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:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

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:	2009/10/23