The Question

This question is posed on behalf of a member of the state EMB in Oaxaca, México.

We are in the process of developing procedures to codify customary law of indigenous communities used for the election of municipal representatives and members of the local legislative body. Taking that into account, I would like to know:

• What country examples are there where elections related procedures and legislation has made provisions for customary laws of indigenous communities when it comes to local level elections? 
• Which customary laws have been considered in these country examples?
• Could you share those customary laws?

Ejemplos comparados de procedimientos y legislación electoral que consideren los usos y costumbres de las comunidades indígenas

Esta pregunta se plantea a nombre de un miembro del organismo electoral del estado de Oaxaca, México.

Estamos en el proceso de empezar los trabajos para codificar los usos y costumbres de las comunidades indígenas usados para la elección de sus representantes municipales y  a la legislatura local. Con ello en mente, quisiera saber:

• ¿En qué otros países existen previsiones, en la legislación y procedimientos electorales, para que las comunidades indígenas elijan a sus representantes mediante sus propios usos y costumbres? 
• ¿Qué usos y costumbres han sido considerados en esos países?
• ¿Podrían incluir/compartir ejemplares de esos usos y costumbres?

Summary of Responses

Practitioners’ Network members identified several country examples where election related procedures and legislation have made provisions for the customary laws of indigenous communities. According to one PN member, the constitution and the electoral law of the Democratic Republic of Congo have scheduled appointments of traditional leaders in the country’s provincial elections. Electoral laws and constitutions of the DRC can be found in the ACE Electoral Materials section.

Another member of the PN shared experiences from observing the 2009 presidential elections in Bolivia, where there are provisions for customary institutions. More information is available in election observation reports as well as in electoral legislation from Bolivia.

Finally, it was noted by one member that customary law has been placed within the framework of self-governance in Canada. Elections for the most common form of self-government, band councils, are normally held according the customs of the band. 

Examples of Related ACE Articles and Resources

• Legal Framework Encyclopaedia topic area - Different Legal Traditions 

External Resources

• Indian Act of Canada  
• Information about Nunavut
• Information about aboriginal self government in Canada, as provided by the Parliamentary Research Service 
• Aboriginal Self Government Fact-Sheet 
• Nunavut Elections Act

Names of Contributors

• Ousmane Diarra
• Aashish Oberoi
• Sándor Szabó

Dear Colleagues,

I am currently working with the Electoral Assistance Division at MONUSCO in Democratic Republic of the Congo. The constitution and the Electoral law of this country have scheduled the appointment of traditional leaders in the provincial election.

There is percentage of the seats to be elected by direct poll and the other one are appointed by those elected. This is a kind of indirect poll. Currently I do not have these laws available but you can find them on line by searching.

In the Canadian example, customary law has been place within the framework of self-governance.

While some aboriginal communities now have significant self-governance rights, Canada is still negotiating with many aboriginal groups over what their self-governance will look like on the local level. This is because the implementation of aboriginal self-governance is still relatively new in Canada.

The responsibility of all aboriginal lands and affairs, including health care and education (which normally fall under provincial jurisdiction) is given to the federal government under section 91(24) of the Canadian Constitution. This, in tandem with the federal government’s Indian Act of 1876, made the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (though the name of the department has changed several times) in charge of all Indian affairs. Though some level of self-governance has always existed in Canada, until the 1970s it was negligible.

In the example of the most common form of self-government - band councils, elections are normally held according the customs of the band, though section 74 of the Indian Act has provisions for the minister to override local customs and instead implement a set of election rules which are prescribed in the Indian Act. It is now extremely rare for section 74 for to be invoked – with the last example of this being used dating back to 1924. In the case of the North West Territories, all bands use their own customs in elections. Section 81 of Indian Act provides an outline for the powers of the band councils, though in many cases negotiations has led to the broadening of the powers.

A movement to strengthen self-government rights that originated in the 1970s led to both constitutional negotiations such as the failed Charlottetown Accord and the establishment of several commissions that gave recommendations on how to implement greater self-governance through community-based negotiations with band councils.

While the government is currently involved in 21 such negotiations (with the average time for the completion of a treaty being 15 years), 18 self-government negotiations have been completed that affect 32 communities. Most significantly, the territory of Nunavut was created in 1999 as a result of one such negotiation with the Inuit people.  In this new territory, 83% of the population is of Inuit background and the name “Nunavut” means “Our Land” in Inuktitut, which is the language of the Inuit peoples. In this land, the Inuit are given “a share of mineral, oil, and gas development, the right to participate in decisions regarding the land and water resources, and rights to harvest wildlife on their lands.”

Read More:

• Indian Act of Canada 
• Canadian Constitution 
• Information about Nunavut
• Information about aboriginal self government in Canada, as provided by the Parliamentary Research Service 
• Aboriginal Self Government Fact-Sheet 
• Nunavut Elections Act

Estimado Colega,

Estaba trabajando como observador de largo plazo de la Unión Europea durante las elecciones presidenciales de 2009 en Bolivia.

En aquel entonces surgió una duda sobre el " voto familiar " o acompanado. Esto era un fenomeno especial, porgue en comunidades indigenas ( mallku) existía la practica de votar unanime sobre candidaturas. Esto debía a la tradición de cientos o no miles de anos, que las comunidades quechuas y aymaras debatían sobre casos de primer importancia para la comunidad ( no solamente y no especialmente de elecciones ) hasta que toda la comunidad lograba un acuerdo unanime, un consenso. Esta decisión era obligatorio para jefes y todos miembros de la comunidad, con la sanción de expulsar de la misma a los desobedientes, quitando la protección de la comunidad. Según entiendo estas tradiciones eran basicas en sentido de sobrevivencia de cada comunidad en extremas condiciones climaticas, geograficas. Esta practica causó 100 % de votos a favor de un candidato en algunas zonas rurales distantes, acusando el jefe de la comunidad con compra de votos o de influencia indebida etc.

Claro está, que han pasado ya anos , por esto desconozco la legislación vigente de Bolivia.

Podria sugerirle contactar directamente la Comisión Nacional Electoral de Bolivia.

En cuanto de uso de lenguas indigenas Ud. puede descubrir buenas practicas en el sistema electoral de Venezuela , entre otros, también.

Cordiales saludos, Sandor Szabó, observador de largo plazo de la Comisión Europea