Info

Palestine

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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:	Existing, historical boundaries are used. The Electoral Law stipulates 16 districts.
Source:	EL. 5 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	h. Not applicable
Comments:
Source:	EL.5 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:
Source:	EL.5 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	b. Directly elected in general elections (simple majority)
Comments:
Source:	EL. 1, 2, 88 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	The head of government is appointed by the head of state, then subjected to a vote of confidence by the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Source:	Draft C. 128 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	EL. 1, 2 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:
Source:	Draft C. Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	c. Block Vote
Comments:	In the case of a tie between two or more of the candidates with the most votes, new elections between those candidates shall take place within 10 days. In any constituency where a minimum number of seats is reserved for Christians, those seats shall be allotted to the Christian candidates who obtained more votes than the rest of the Christian candidates.
Source:	EL.89 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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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:	EL. Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections
Comments:	Legislative and presidential elections.
Source:	EL. Updated on March 10, 2005
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:
Source:	EL: 6 Updated on March 10, 2005
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):	b. EMB
Comments:
Source:	EL.24 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2006/11/21

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Electoral Management

EM001

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

Name of Institution: Central Elections Commission (CEC)
Website Address: www.elections.ps

Source

No Source

Verified

2009/11/12

(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 Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC) is to administer the elections in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Law. The CEC further created the District Election Offices (DEOs) and Polling Station Commissions (PSCs) to assist in carrying out the elections at the local level.
Source:	EL. 86
Verified:	2007/12/10

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:	As a part of the budget expenditures.
Source:
Verified:	2004/07/15

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) is financially independent.
Source:
Verified:	2004/08/12

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	b. For a specified number of years
Comments:	The duration of the term of office for members is four years from the date of the formation, unless the President decides to reform the EMB before the end of its term.
Source:	Presidential Decree of 2007, pertaining the general elections. http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Election_Law_(2007-Sept_02)-EN.pdf
Verified:	2007/12/10

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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 c. Local/County Electoral Management Bodies d. National Government g. NGOs/ Civic Organizations h. Political parties/ candidates i. Media
Comments:	The CEC was actively engaged in voter education.
Source:	http://www.pogar.org/index.html Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:	Only one election has taken place.
Source:	Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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 h. Yes, conducted by NGOs/ Civic Organizations i. Yes, conducted by Political Parties/ Candidates j. Yes, conducted by the Media
Comments:
Source:	Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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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:	EL. 7 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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 e. Other
Comments:	a.) A Palestinian is a person who: a. Was born in Palestine, as defined by the territory covered by the British Mandate, or had the right to the Palestinian citizenship according to the laws in force during that period. b. Was born in the Gaza Strip or in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. c. Irrespective of place of birth, has one or more direct ancestors that meet the requirements of paragraph a) above, d. Is the spouse of a Palestinian who meet the mentioned requirements. e. Has not the Israeli citizenship. e.) The voter need to be entered in the electoral register of the polling district where he or she is to exercise the right to vote. He/she also need to be entered in the final electoral register.
Source:	EL.7 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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:	The registration of electors is carried out by the Polling Station Commission.
Source:	EL.28 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	EL. 10 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	d. At specially designated polling stations
Comments:
Source:	EL. 66 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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:	Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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:
Source:	Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	g.) Putting a ballot in an envelope.
Source:	EL.12 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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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):	f. Other
Comments:	f.) A written application, containing the following: a. The name of the entity and the logo or symbol, which are to appear on the ballot papers. b. The names of its President or Secretary General. c. The names of its representatives d. The address of its main seat.
Source:	EL. 12, 43, 49 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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 d. Residence f. Registration
Comments:	a.) 25 years. The name should appear in the final voter's list and a residency requirement within the boundaries of the electoral district the candidate is to compete in.
Source:	EL.12 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:
Source:	EL. 9, 12 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	a. No
Comments:
Source:	Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	f. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2005/04/05

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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:	EL.76 Updated on March 10, 2005
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	e. Court order f. Other
Comments:	f.) By the recommendation of the county election commission.
Source:	EL. 84 Updated on March 10, 2005
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):	h. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Articles 54 to 59, 93, and 94 Electoral Law http://www.arab-ipu.org/pdb/RelatedArticlesGvnSPName.asp?SPName=CHRN&StructuredIndexCode=&LawBookID=021020013748088&Year1=&Year2=&YearGorH=
Verified:	2005/06/22

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	c. No
Comments:	NA
Source:	Ministry of Information
Verified:	2005/06/22

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:	Ministry of Information
Verified:	2005/06/22

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:
Comments:	Constitution not valid, only a draft. No provisions for DD in current laws.
Source:	Electoral Commission Palestine
Verified:	2007/06/11

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
Comments:	Constitution not valid, only a draft. No provisions for DD in current laws.
Source:	Electoral Commission Palestine
Verified:	2007/06/11

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
Comments:	Constitution not valid, only a draft. No provisions for DD in current laws.
Source:	Electoral Commission Palestine
Verified:	2007/06/11

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
Comments:	Constitution not valid, only a draft. No provisions for DD in current laws.
Source:	Electoral Commission Palestine
Verified:	2007/06/11

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
Comments:	Constitution not valid, only a draft. No provisions for DD in current laws.
Source:	Electoral Commission Palestine
Verified:	2007/06/11

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:
Comments:	Constitution not valid, only a draft. No provisions for DD in current laws.
Source:	Electoral Commission Palestine
Verified:	2007/06/11

DD129

DD130

DD131