Info
Boundary Delimitation
BD001
Delimitation of constituencies
Question: Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The Independent Electoral Commission is responsible for constituency delimitation. Delimitation is reviewed every 8-10 years after the new constituencies are decided. The constituencies may also be reviewed whenever a census of the population is carried out.
“The Commission shall review the boundaries of the constituencies into which Lesotho is divided … not less than eight nor more than ten years from the date of completing its last review, and may, by order, alter the boundaries in accordance with the provisions of this section to such extent as it considers desirable in the light of the review:
Provided that whenever a census of the population has been held in pursuance of any law the Commission may carry out such a review and make such an alteration to the extent which it considers desirable in consequence of that census.”
Source: Constitution of Lesotho, Article 66 and 67;
National Assembly Electoral Act (2011), Article 135(f)
Verified: 2017/07/19
BD003
Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question: On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):
a . "Equality" of population b . Respecting natural barriers c . Compactness of constituencies d . Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries e . Geographic size of district f . Communities of interest/cultural concerns
Comments: “All constituencies shall contain as nearly equal numbers of inhabitants of or above the age of twenty-one years as appears to the Commission to be reasonably practicable, but the Commission may depart from this principle to such extent as it considers expedient in order to take account of--
a. the density of population, and in particular the need to ensure adequate representation of sparsely populated rural areas;
b. the means of communication;
c. geographical features;
d. community of interest; and
e. the boundaries of existing administrative areas:
Provided that the number of inhabitants, of or above the age of eighteen years, of any constituency shall not exceed or fall short of the population quota by more than ten per cent.”
Source: Constitution of Lesotho, art. 67(2)
Verified: 2017/07/19
BD005
Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question: The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):
d . Boundary Commission
Comments: The Independent Electoral Commission is responsible for constituency demarcation.
Source: Constitution of Lesotho, art. 66A(1);
National Assembly Electoral Act 135(f)
Verified: 2017/07/19
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