|
total countries/territories: 115
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Algeria
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Electoral Law
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/03/26
|
|
American Samoa
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
American Samoa Code Title 6 Elections Chapter 8, 6.0805.
|
2005/02/16
|
|
Argentina
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Austria
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2003/06/11
|
|
Azerbaijan
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2022/01/24
|
|
Bahamas
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2002/10/02
|
|
Bahrain
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution 2002, chapter 4, part 3, section 1, article 33 (f) and 52.
The Law of the Shura Council and the Parliament, issued by Decree no 14 for 2002.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/03/30
|
|
Bangladesh
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
S. M. Asaduzzaman; Public Relations Officer; Bangladesh Election Commission. Email: [email protected]
|
2006/05/23
|
|
Barbados
|
c. Not applicable
|
Senators are appointed.
Source:
Constitution, Ch.5, Section 36.
|
2003/06/10
|
|
Belarus
|
c. Not applicable
|
56 members are elected indirectly (regional councils and council of Minsk), the rules of it differs. 8 are appointed by the Head of State.
Source:
Code on Elections Chapter IV. Art. 106.
|
2002/09/09
|
|
Belgium
|
a. No minimum
|
Source:
Electoral Code, Art. 166, 167, 168
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Belize
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
EL: Representation of the People Act (ROPA) 17 (1) and (3)
|
2003/11/25
|
|
Benin
|
c. Not applicable
|
no chamber 2
|
2005/01/16
|
|
Brazil
|
c. Not applicable
|
Article 83:
In direct elections for the Federal Senate, for mayor, and for vice mayor, the majority principle shall be adopted.
Source:
Electoral Code - Law No. 4,737, of July 15, 1965, Article 84, 106-113:
https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/codigo-eleitoral-1/codigo-eleitoral-lei-nb0-4.737-de-15-de-julho-de-1965
|
2024/10/23
|
|
Bulgaria
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Constitution, articles 62-64.
|
2004/11/02
|
|
Cameroon
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2018/11/07
|
|
Canada
|
c. Not applicable
|
Senators are appointed
Source:
Constitution: Constitution Acts 1867-1982, Section 22-23.
|
2002/05/17
|
|
Cape Verde
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2001/10/04
|
|
Chile
|
a. No minimum
|
Source:
Mr. Juan Ignacio García
|
2001/08/20
|
|
Colombia
|
a. No minimum
|
In 2006, this situation is going to change.
Source:
CNE
|
2003/07/30
|
|
Congo (Kinshasa), Democratic Republic of the
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2018/11/09
|
|
Croatia
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
Source:
Constitution, articles 70 and 71.
|
2002/08/23
|
|
Cyprus
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 61
|
2012/04/26
|
|
Czech Republic
|
b. Specify the percentage:
|
(interview with EMB official, Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of the Interior) In the elections to the Senate, individuals stand as candidates and there are not any party lists. The winner is the candidate who obtains the absolute majority of valid votes. If none do so, a second round of elections is held. Only the 2 candidates who obtain the most votes in the first round move into the second round. The one who obtains more votes in the second round wins. If there is a tie, the winner is chosen by lot.
Source:
Articles 75-76 of the electoral act on elections to the Parliament (Law Digest no. 247/1995 as amended)
|
2002/05/15
|
|
Denmark
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2015/06/08
|
|
Djibouti
|
c. Not applicable
|
There is only one chamber
Source:
Article 45 of the constitution
|
2023/07/11
|
|
Dominica
|
c. Not applicable
|
Congress is unicameral.
|
2002/12/09
|
|
Egypt
|
b. Specify the percentage:
|
50 percent.
In the individual seat system, a candidate must secure an absolute majority of valid votes to win. If no candidate achieves this, a runoff is held between the top two contenders.
Source:
https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/211214?lang=en-us
|
2025/09/23
|
|
Eritrea
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2011/06/21
|
|
Fiji
|
c. Not applicable
|
appointed seats.
Source:
Constitution Section 64
|
2003/06/30
|
|
Finland
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Constitution, Section 24: http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf (2012)
|
2012/05/21
|
|
France
|
b. Specify the percentage:
|
b) In departments where maximum three senators are elected, candidates must obtain the absolute majority of votes and a number of votes equal to 1/4 of registered voters. In departments where at least four senators are elected, elections are held under proportional representation according to the rule of the highest average.
Source:
Electoral code, Art. L294, L295
|
2012/05/02
|
|
French Polynesia
|
a. No minimum
|
|
2003/07/01
|
|
Georgia
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber.
Source:
Constitution of Georgia, chapter 3:
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Georgia_2018?lang=en
|
2024/07/24
|
|
Germany
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/06/24
|
|
Ghana
|
c. Not applicable
|
Same as ES16
Source:
Same as ES16
|
2005/07/01
|
|
Guyana
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Constitution, art. 51.
|
2004/09/03
|
|
Holy See (Vatican City State)
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001, Art. 3: http://www.vatican.va/vatican_city_state/legislation/documents/scv_doc_20001126_legge-fondamentale-scv_it.html (2012);
Official Website of the Vatican City State: http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/State_and_Government/StateDepartments/Legislative_and_executive_bodies.htm (2012)
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Hungary
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2001/09/12
|
|
Iceland
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
Source:
Björn Fridfinnsson, Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs, bjorn.fridfinnsson(a)dkm.stjr.is
|
2002/07/11
|
|
India
|
a. No minimum
|
No distinction between independent and party candidates. " For the Rajya Sabha the quota is set at the number of votes that can be attained by just enought MPs to fill all the seats but no more. Votes that are deemed surplus, those given to candidates who have already got a full quota of votes, or votes given to candidates who are deemed to be losing candidates, are transferred according to the voter's listed preferences, until the right number of candidates have been elected."
Source:
Election Commission of India online (www.eic.gov.in)
|
2024/06/12
|
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2016/01/22
|
|
Ireland
|
c. Not applicable
|
Same for all elected candidates - quota of votes based on valid votes and seats in panel.
Source:
Constitution, Art. 18;
Electoral Acts 1992 - 2011
|
2012/05/10
|
|
Israel
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Italy
|
b. Specify the percentage:
|
Single Parties or Lists must obtain at least 8% of the valid votes.
Source:
Legislative Act: Law of 21 December 2005, n. 270, Art. 4(7)b
|
2012/04/16
|
|
Jamaica
|
c. Not applicable
|
question not answered
|
2001/05/11
|
|
Japan
|
b. Specify the percentage:
|
1. More than one sixth of the valid votes.
2. In the case that a constituency needs the plural seats, the number of valid votes is divided by the number of seats. One sixth of the result of this division will be the precentage required.
Source:
Electoral Code, article 95 (paragraph 1).
|
2003/07/01
|
|
Jordan
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2016/08/01
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/02/16
|
|
Kenya
|
a. No minimum
|
|
2012/03/14
|
|
Kiribati
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
|
2020/05/01
|
|
Korea, Republic of
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of only one chamber.
Source:
Constitution, article 40.
|
2003/01/10
|
|
Lao People's Democratic Republic
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/02/16
|
|
Lesotho
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2015/03/03
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/23
|
|
Lithuania
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
Source:
Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (1992) as amended on 25 April 2006, Art. 55
|
2016/02/02
|
|
Luxembourg
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only
Source:
Constitution, Art. 50, 51
|
2015/06/04
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
c. Not applicable
|
The parliament is unicameral.
|
2020/04/15
|
|
Malawi
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2019/05/29
|
|
Maldives
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legisalture consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Constitution 1998, article 63.
|
2004/08/24
|
|
Marshall Islands
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2005/02/23
|
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/03/24
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Monaco
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 4, 53
|
2012/04/27
|
|
Montenegro
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2023/09/25
|
|
Morocco
|
a. No minimum
|
Source:
http://www.pogar.org/
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Nepal
|
a. No minimum
|
Please note that there is no direct elections to the lower house.
Source:
Constitution 1990.
|
2004/10/06
|
|
Netherlands
|
a. No minimum
|
Source:
Heemskerk, Ruud, Member of the National Election Board, stemid(a)worldonline.nl
|
2016/03/04
|
|
New Caledonia
|
a. No minimum
|
|
2003/07/01
|
|
New Zealand
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2024/07/02
|
|
Niger
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2005/01/21
|
|
Nigeria
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2015/02/14
|
|
Niue
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2005/02/22
|
|
Norway
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature only consists of one chamber.
|
2012/05/22
|
|
Palestine
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Papua New Guinea
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2005/03/02
|
|
Paraguay
|
a. No minimum
|
Source:
Law N.834, Articles 247 and 258.
|
2003/11/26
|
|
Portugal
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2024/10/10
|
|
Romania
|
b. Specify the percentage:
|
b.) 5%
Source:
Law on Election of the Parliament, articles 65 (paragraph 2) and 66. (paragraph 1), amended by Emergency Decree 129/2000, articles 1 and 2.
|
2004/11/22
|
|
Russian Federation
|
c. Not applicable
|
Members of the Federal Council are appointed.
Source:
Federal Law on the Procedure to Form the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly as on December 3 2012.
|
2016/06/03
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2020/04/14
|
|
Saint Lucia
|
c. Not applicable
|
Senators are appointed.
|
2002/12/10
|
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Samoa
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/04/09
|
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2021/06/17
|
|
Serbia
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2022/07/05
|
|
Seychelles
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2025/02/25
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2005/06/28
|
|
Slovakia
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Mrs. Lívia Skultétyová
|
2001/11/15
|
|
Slovenia
|
a. No minimum
|
The National Council is the representative body for social, economic, professional and local interests. The National Council has forty members. The councillors are indirectly elected within the interest organizations or local communities. According to the principle of relative majority, the candidate with most votes wins the office.
If two or more persons receive the same number of votes, a draw is used to settle the outcome.
Source:
Constitution, articles 21 and 96.
|
2002/08/27
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2004/04/29
|
|
Somalia
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
article 28 1997 constitution
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Spain
|
a. No minimum
|
Source:
Electoral Law 5/1985 of 19 June, Art. 166
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution 1978, article 62(1): http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/asia/LK/sri-lanka-constitution-as-amended-up-to-9/at_download/file
|
2016/01/28
|
|
Sudan
|
c. Not applicable
|
The unicameral parliament is composed of the National Assembly (al-Majlis al-Watani).
Source:
http://www.pogar.org/
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Sweden
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
Source:
The Instrument of Government, Ch. 3, Art. 2: Official Website of the Parliament: http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Start/Bestall/Sprakversioner/English---engelska1/Sveriges-grundlagar-och-riksdagsordningen1/ (2012)
|
2014/08/04
|
|
Switzerland
|
a. No minimum
|
The candidates with the highest number of votes are elected.
Source:
Federal Law of 17 December 1976 (as amended) regulating political rights, Art. 43, 47: http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/161_1/index.html (2012)
|
2012/05/11
|
|
Taiwan
|
c. Not applicable
|
The national legislature consists of one chamber only.
|
2020/03/26
|
|
Tanzania, United Republic of
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2025/12/01
|
|
Timor-Leste
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2001/09/14
|
|
Tonga
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2003/07/18
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
c. Not applicable
|
Senators are directly appointed by the President.
Source:
Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, Article 40 [1]
|
2015/05/21
|
|
Tunisia
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2019/08/05
|
|
Turkey
|
c. Not applicable
|
The Parliament is unicameral.
Source:
Turkish Constitution, art. 7: https://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf
|
2016/01/21
|
|
Uganda
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2025/12/02
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
The House of Lords Act 1999: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/34/contents (2012)
|
2016/04/11
|
|
United States of America
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
The Federal Election Commission online (www.fec.gov)
|
2016/02/12
|
|
Uruguay
|
c. Not applicable
|
There aren't independent candidates
Source:
Mr. Carlos Urruty, President, Corte Electoral
|
2002/06/18
|
|
Uzbekistan
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2009/08/18
|
|
Vanuatu
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu art. 15: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/VU/vanuatu-constitution-of-the-republic-of-vanuatu/at_download/file
|
2016/01/26
|
|
Venezuela
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitución, art. 186
|
2003/09/26
|
|
Viet Nam
|
c. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution, article 83
|
2021/03/23
|
|
Yemen
|
c. Not applicable
|
The Consultative Council or Shura Council is composed of 111 seats, as of April 28, 2001, appointed by the President. So there are no elections.
Source:
Constitution, chapter 3, part 2, section 1, articles 125 and 126.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/08
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
c. Not applicable
|
|
2018/10/30
|
