The Question

This question is posed on behalf of Jørgen Elklit, member of the Practitioners Network.

I'm trying to gain an overview of what countries have special seat allocation systems for citizens voting from abroad. If votes from abroad are just included among the votes cast in-country, they are not interesting for me (in this context), but if there are special constituencies or other special arrangements, I'll appreciate being informed (as detailed as possible). 

My list of countries with such special electoral system features include Cape Verde, Angola (not yet implemented), Mozambique, Algeria, Tunisia, Portugal, France, Italy, Croatia, Macedonia, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Colombia. 

But the question remains: Are there other such countries? 

Summary of Responses

Some PN Members shared other examples of countries with special seat arrangements for citizens abroad

PN Members offered their perspectives, but most either suggested countries that had out-of-country voting, but no specific seat allocation systems for expatriate voters, or cited examples already mentioned in the question (e.g. Tunisia). A few members also expressed a need for their countries to institutionalize a system of voting from abroad. However, in addition to the countries already mentioned in the question, members mentioned two more countries with special seat arrangements: Romania and Hungary.   

Members shared several resources on the subject

In the context of Romania, one PN member shared a paper by Burean Toma (2011), which suggests special electoral constituencies for Romanian citizens living or traveling abroad. This arrangement-- implemented through the 2008 electoral law, created four electoral seats individually representing four global geographic regions (Western and Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia, North and South America, and Africa and the Middle East). One drawback of this arrangement that Toma mentions is that the seats are geographically based, regardless of the population or Romanians living in each region, relatively under-representing the Romanian population living across Europe.

In the context of Hungary, another PN member shared an analysis of the effects of the 2013 Hungarian Electoral Procedure Law, suggesting that citizens abroad can only vote for party lists and not individual candidates.  It is worth noting that the law officially gave suffrage to non-resident Hungarian citizens.

PN members also suggested other resources and publications on the topic of voting from abroad. Two members suggested resources by International IDEA: the Voting from Abroad Database, and the External Voting Handbook.  

One member suggested looking at Lebanon, as in 2009 the country’s parliament agreed on adopting out-of-country voting measures. However, in 2010 the government abandoned this question as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued it was not equipped or interested in pursuing expatriate voting, as suggested in a report by the Aspen Institute.

External Resources

Confessionalism and Electoral Reform in Lebanon

Voting from Abroad Database

Political Participation by the Romanian Diaspora

External Voting Handbook

New Electoral System in the Home Stretch: An Analysis of the Effects of the New Hungarian Electoral Procedure Law and the Campaign Finance Law

Names of Contributors

David Jandura

Abdurashid Solijonov

Jeff Labovitz

Pipit Apriani

Dorian Bodiu

Philip Fara Kargbo

Yanina Bocanera

Christine Ndayishimiye

Andras Palatitz

Enrique Lopez Sanavia

The Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre

Hedi Trabelsi

In Tunisia's 2011 Constituent Assembly election, there were six expatriate districts and 27 in country. The breakdown was two for France, one for Germany, one in Italy, one in the Americas and one for the Arab world.

Please, visit IDEA's Voting from Abroad database - it has some detailed data about seats allocated to foreign electoral districts. http://www.idea.int/elections/vfa_search.cfm# 

You may have too see the comments and sources sections of the data to obtain more information.

Hi Jorgen,

I recall that Lebanon was considering a special seat allocation.

This idea comes to Indonesia nowadays. We still discuss about this, however, it is not significant to have a seat for people who live and work abroad. Most Indonesians work abroad temporarily, not forever. Soon, they will go back to Indonesia at least in their retirement. 

Some of our parliament members agree with this idea, but in the last electoral law April 2012), there is no seat allocation for abroad voters. Perhaps in the next term. I'll let you know, if there is a change. 

Dear Jorgen!

Please find in attachment a good material about the Romanians (romanian diaspora) who votes abroad and economical, political as well the seats allocation algorithm.

Hi Jorgen

It is unfortunate that Sierra Leone has considered this option in our political system. The issue of Diaspora voting has not gain momentum even though it was experimented in 1996 during the rebel war which gave opportunity to Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea to vote. However, its a very interesting topic. For Sierra Leone, I think we need to implement diaspora voting first before considering special seat allocation to people in the diaspora. Probably, as we are on the verge of reviewing our constitution, it is something worthwhile to consider.

Hi Jorgen,

There is an External Voting Handbook published by IDEA in 2009 . I found it pretty useful! Here is the link: http://www.idea.int/publications/voting_from_abroad/index.cfm

Christine Ndayishimiye du Burundi

Dans l'arsenal juridique de mon pays, il n'est nulle part mentionné que les Burundais vivant à l'étranger peuvent avoir des sièges au parlement. Par ailleurs l'une des conditions pour être éligible c'est de résider sur le sol burundais. Néanmoins, comme le monde devient de plus en plus un village planétaire, ce serait intéressant de mener une réflection dans ce sens car en effet, un burundais vivant à l'étranger peut défendre les intérêts de ses compatriotes là où il réside.

Dear Jorgen,

Please find attached an analysis about the Hungarian electoral reform process. As a result, non-resident Hungarians can only vote for the party list, not for individual candidates.

La migración es un fenómeno social que surge por naturaleza humana y por  necesidad individual.   Este movimiento de circularidad,  generado no solo  en el ámbito  internacional, sino  también en las circunscripciones  municipal y estatal, aparece bajo diversas  y muy variadas circunstancias: la  búsqueda de trabajo para obtener un ingreso, el cambio de lugar laboral,  los estudios de nivel superior para superarse,   el matrimonio foráneo inesperado,   el deseo de reunirse con la familia, los  problemas de salud o   las acciones de violencia e inseguridad,  son algunas de las  causas sustanciales  de éste  flujo migratorio que se da en el hombre y en todo tiempo.

Por esa cadena migratoria, se presenta el problema político del voto en el extranjero. El voto del mexicano en el extranjero constituye un genuino valor social y político.  Es el voto a distancia,  por las razones migratorias que sean, mismo que necesita ser valorado como  una garantía constitucional. Se impone, conformar una tarea que diseñe normas,  procedimientos, mecanismos e instancias que se encaminen por acercar la confianza y credibilidad ciudadana de los migrantes.  

En México,  se prevé en el Codigo Federal de Instituciones y Procedimientos Electorales un capítulo especial para el voto en el extranjero. se anota el contenido de algunos artículos vigentes: "Artículo 313

1.      Los ciudadanos que residan en el extranjero podrán ejercer su derecho al voto exclusivamente para la elección de Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos.

Artículo 314

1.      Para el ejercicio del voto los ciudadanos que residan en el extranjero, además de los que fija el Artículo 34 de la Constitución y los señalados en el párrafo 1 del Artículo 6 de este Código, deberán cumplir los siguientes requisitos:

a)      Solicitar a la Dirección Ejecutiva del Registro Federal de Electores, por escrito, con firma autógrafa o, en su caso, huella digital, en el formato aprobado por el Consejo General, su inscripción en el listado nominal de electores residentes en el extranjero;

b)      Manifestar, bajo su más estricta responsabilidad y bajo protesta de decir verdad, el domicilio en el extranjero al que se le hará llegar, en su caso, la boleta electoral; y

c)      Los demás establecidos en el presente Libro.

Artículo 315

1.      Los ciudadanos mexicanos que cumplan los requisitos señalados enviarán la solicitud a que se refiere el inciso a) del párrafo 1 del artículo anterior entre el 1o. de octubre del año previo, y hasta el 15 de enero del año de la elección presidencial.

2.      La solicitud será enviada a la Dirección Ejecutiva del Registro Federal de Electores, por correo certificado, acompañada de los siguientes documentos:

a)      Fotocopia legible del anverso y reverso de su credencial para votar con fotografía; el elector deberá firmar la fotocopia o, en su caso, colocar su huella digital; y

b)      Documento en el que conste el domicilio que manifiesta tener en el extranjero.

3.      Para efectos de verificación del cumplimiento del plazo de envío señalado en el párrafo 1 de este artículo, se tomará como elemento de prueba la fecha de expedición de la solicitud de inscripción que el servicio postal de que se trate estampe en el sobre de envío.

4.      A ninguna solicitud enviada por el ciudadano después del 15 de enero del año de la elección, o que sea recibida por el Instituto después del 15 de febrero del mismo año, se le dará trámite. En estos casos, la Dirección Ejecutiva del Registro Federal de Electores enviará al interesado, por correo certificado, aviso de no inscripción por extemporaneidad.

5.      El ciudadano interesado podrá consultar al Instituto, por vía telefónica o electrónica, su inscripción.

Artículo 316

1.      La solicitud de inscripción en el listado nominal de electores tendrá efectos legales de notificación al Instituto de la decisión del ciudadano de votar en el extranjero en la elección para Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos.

Para tal efecto el respectivo formato contendrá la siguiente leyenda:

"Manifiesto, bajo protesta de decir verdad, que por residir en el extranjero:

a)      Expreso mi decisión de votar en el país en que resido y no en territorio mexicano;

b)      Solicito votar por correo en la próxima elección para Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos;

c)      Autorizo al Instituto Federal Electoral, verificado el cumplimiento de los requisitos legales, para ser inscrito en la lista nominal de electores residentes en el extranjero, y darme de baja, temporalmente, de la lista correspondiente a la sección electoral que aparece en mi credencial para votar;

d)      Solicito que me sea enviada a mi domicilio en el extranjero la boleta electoral; y

e)      Autorizo al Instituto Federal Electoral para que, concluido el proceso electoral, me reinscriba en la lista nominal de electores correspondiente a la sección electoral que aparece en mi credencial para votar".

This response is posted on behalf of the Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre.

It is hereby informed that as per the provisions of the Indian Election Laws, Indian citizens above 18 years of age staying in other countries are eligible for getting enrolled in the list of electors of the constituency where the person was ordinarily residing before leaving the country which is the address given in the passport. Those overseas electors enrolled in the current Electoral Roll can vote only in person at the polling station assigned for the electors of the constituency. There is no special arrangement for casting of vote by these electors and also there is no special constituency earmarked for these electors. 

Only the officials of the Government of India employed in a post outside India in Indian missions can vote by “Postal Ballot Paper”.

Dear all

Thank you for David Jandura

Other details from Tunisian experience  

According to Tunisian High Independent Electoral Commission (ISIE) - there were more than one million of Tunisians who were resident out country in 2011. Among them, there was 721596 eligible Tunisian electors registered in all Tunisian consulates out country.       18 seats in National Constituent Assembly – parliament- were reserved to them. These seats were distributed among six constituencies: France1 (5 seats), France2 (5 seats), Italy ( 3 seats) , German (1 seat), American continent and the rest of Europe (2 seats), Arab region and the rest of the world ( 2 seats)

In country, the formula -for every constituency - was:

-1 seat per 60000 habitants

- add a seat if the remainder of the division by 60000 is great than 30000 habitants

- add a seat if population is between 270000 and 500000 habitants

- add two seats if population is less than 270000 habitants

- Maximum is 10 seats

Out country, for every constituency of Tunisian national’s residents- the formula was:

-1 seat per 60000 residents

- add a seat if the remainder of the division of the population by 60000 is great than 30000 residents

There were 144  lists of candidates which contain 855 candidates all over the world for 18 seats..

 About 50% of Tunisian nationals residents abroad had been voluntary registered to the elections of October 2011.  Most of them were in France. The others were automatically registered according to their personal data already existing in consulates services. It is thought that many of  these should not be resident out country but their data was still being registered.

.

During  three electoral days  out country: October 20-21-22, 2011,  the High Independent Electoral Commission – ISIE-  have used 66 polling centres all over the world  which contain 371 polling offices.

Only 214231 electors (29.7%) among eligible electors who were theoretically resident out country had participated to vote.