Info
Boundary Delimitation
BD001
Delimitation of constituencies
Question: Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Representation of the People Act, Art. 11A (2)
Verified: 2015/05/11
BD003
Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question: On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):
d . Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries
Comments: 'Constituencies are delimited for election purposes as ten (10) electoral (geographical) constituencies identical to Guyana's ten (10) Administrative Regions.'
Source: GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission): http://www.gecom.org.gy/faq.html
Verified: 2015/05/08
BD005
Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question: The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):
e . Electoral Management Body (EMB)
Comments:
Source: Dr. Steve Surujbally, President of the Elections Commissions, elections(a)sdnp.gy
Verified: 2015/05/11
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
h . Other
Comments: The President is popularly elected in direct elections. Any list of candidates for an election shall designate not more than one of those candidates as a Presidential candidate. An elector voting as such an election in favour of a list shall be deemed to be also voting in favour of the Presidential candidate named in the list.
Source: Constitution, art. 89, 91 & 177
Verified: 2015/05/10
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments: The President shall appoint an elected member of the National Assembly to be Prime Minister of Guyana.
Source: Constitution, art. 101
Verified: 2015/05/10
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Constitution, art. 89 - 98
Verified: 2015/05/10
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
a . One chamber
Comments:
Source: Constitution, art. 51 - 52
Verified: 2015/05/11
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
g . List Proportional Representation
Comments:
Source: Constitution, art 60.
Verified: 2015/05/10
Legislative Framework
LF001
Status of Electoral Law
Question: What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Part of Constitution b . Separate legislation
Comments: Some aspects are covered by Guyana's Constitution and the rest are in different pieces of legislation including the Election Laws Act of 1996 and the Representation of Peoples Act of 1964
Source: Constitution, articles 59-79.
Guyana Election Laws Act
Representation of the People Act
Representation of the People (Adaptation and Modification of Laws) Act
Verified: 2015/05/11
LF003
Electoral Law covers
Question: The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):
a . National elections b . Regional elections c . Local elections
Comments:
Source: Constitution, articles 71-81.
Verified: 2015/05/10
LF004
Compulsory/voluntary voting
Question: Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):
a . Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source: Dr. Steve Surujbally, President of the Elections Commissions, elections(a)sdnp.gy; International IDEA Compulsory voting list (http://www.idea.int/vt/compulsory_voting.cfm)
Verified: 2015/05/10
LF007
Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)
Question: What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):
a . Judiciary
Comments: "64. All questions as to the membership of the National Assembly shall be determined by the High Court in accordance with the provisions of article 163"
Source: Constitution, article 64.
Verified: 2015/05/10
Electoral Management
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:
Source: "Constitution of Guyana", art. 162 (http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/GY/guyana-constitution-1996/view)
Electoral Law: "Local Authorities (Elections) Act 1990", art. 4
(http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/GY/guyana-local-authorities-elections-act-1990/view)
Verified: 2015/05/11
EM004
EMB budget determined by
Question: The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):
c . The legislature d . A national government department
Comments: "The budget is prepared by the Secretariat and finalised through consultation between representatives of the Commission and the Ministry of Finance prior to its approval by the National Assembly."
Source: "Elections Laws (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2000", sec 21
(http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/GY/guyana-election-law-amendment-act-no-15-of-24/view)
Verified: 2015/05/11
EM005
EMB expenditures controlled by
Question: The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):
d . A national government department
Comments: "The budget is prepared by the Secretariat and finalised through consultation between representatives of the Commission and the Ministry of Finance prior to its approval by the National Assembly."
Source: "Elections Laws (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2000", sec 21
(http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/GY/guyana-election-law-amendment-act-no-15-of-24/view)
Verified: 2015/05/11
EM006
Term of EMB members
Question: The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:
c . For an unspecified period
Comments:
Source: Electoral Management Design: The International IDEA Handbook (http://www.idea.int/publications/emd/upload/EMD_Annex_A.pdf)
Q34 - Guyana Electoral Commission FAQ
(http://www.gecom.org.gy/faq.html)
Verified: 2015/05/11
EM012
Electoral Management model
Question: What is the Electoral Management model?
Answer:
b . Independent
Comments:
Source: "Constitution of Guyana", art 62
(http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/GY/guyana-constitution-1996/view)
Verified: 2013/07/01
EM013
Number of EMB members
Question: The EMB is composed of:
Answer:
a . 1 - 10 members (specify)
Comments: 7 members
Source: "Constitution of Guyana", art 161, sec 3
(http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/GY/guyana-constitution-1996/view)
Electoral Management Design: The International IDEA Handbook (http://www.idea.int/publications/emd/upload/EMD_Annex_A.pdf)
Verified: 2015/05/10
EM014
Membership based on
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected on the basis of their:
Answer:
a . Partisanship
Comments:
Source: "Constitution of Guyana", art 161, sec 3
(http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/GY/guyana-constitution-1996/view)
Electoral Management Design: The International IDEA Handbook (http://www.idea.int/publications/emd/upload/EMD_Annex_A.pdf)
Verified: 2015/05/10
EM015
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected by:
Answer(s):
a . Head of State d . Opposition
Comments: The President and the opposition select the EMB members.
"In addition to the Chairman, the Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2000 also provides for the appointment of six (6) members of the Commission in the following manner -
(a) Three (3) members appointed by the President, acting in his own deliberate judgement.
(b) Three (3) members appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition after he has meaningfully consulted the non-governmental opposition parties represented in the National Assembly."
Source: "Constitution of Guyana", art 161, sec 3
(http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/GY/guyana-constitution-1996/view)
Electoral Management Design: The International IDEA Handbook (http://www.idea.int/publications/emd/upload/EMD_Annex_A.pdf)
Verified: 2015/05/10
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 b . Regional Electoral Management Bodies c . Local/County Electoral Management Bodies f . Local Governments g . NGOs/ Civic Organizations h . Political parties/ candidates i . Media j . Religious Institutions
Comments:
Source: Dr. Steve Surujbally, President of the Elections Commissions,
elections(a)sdnp.gy
Verified: 2015/05/10
VE002
Frequency of voter education programs
Question: At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:
b . Election time only
Comments:
Source: Dr. Steve Surujbally, President of the Elections Commissions, elections(a)sdnp.gy
Verified: 2015/05/10
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
Comments:
Source: http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/2015/05/09/gecom-says-it-is-ready-for-e-day/
Verified: 2015/05/10
Voter Registration
VR001
Voting age
Question: What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
c . 18
Comments:
Source: Constitution, Art. 59
Verified: 2015/05/11
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 b . Period of Residence d . Naturalization
Comments:
Source: Constitution, Art. 59
Verified: 2015/05/11
VR004
Authority 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: Guyana Elections Commission
Source: Constitution, Art. 161A
Verified: 2015/05/11
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):
g . No information available
Comments: No provisions in law regarding the registration of political parties in order to participate in an election.
Source: IFE 2006.
Verified: 2015/05/11
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 c . Country of birth d . Residence f . Registration
Comments:
Source: Constitution of Guyana, article 53
Verified: 2015/05/11
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
a . Neither in presidential nor legislative elections
Comments: Part II (Lists of Candidates) in the Representation of the People Act details how party lists must be submitted for candidacy. no provisions for independent candidates can be found.
Source: Dr. Steve Surujbally, President of the Elections Commissions, elections(a)sdnp.gy
Representation of the People Act, art 9 - 11
Verified: 2015/05/11
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
c . Indirect
Comments:
Source: International IDEA (2003) "Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns"
Verified: 2015/05/11
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
c . Based on current legislative representation d . Based on number of candidates put forward in present election
Comments: c and d) applies only to free media access.
Source: International IDEA (2003) "Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns"
Verified: 2015/05/11
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Dr. Steve Surujbally, President of the Elections Commissions, elections(a)sdnp.gy
Verified: 2015/05/11
Vote Counting
VC004
Votes 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: Representation of the People Act, sec 84
Verified: 2015/05/11
VC011
When are ballots recounted?
Question: Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):
d . By request
Comments:
Source: Representation of the People Act, art 88.
Verified: 2015/05/11
Media and Elections
ME037
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
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: There are no set criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties. It is the consideration of individual media houses to determine how much free time, if at all, would be allocated to political parties.
Source: Vishnu Persaud, Guyana Elections Commission
Verified: 2015/05/11
ME059
Television debates
Question: Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):
c . No
Comments: No. In 2011 Guyana attempted to hold the country's first presidential debates, however they were cancelled.
Source: Vishnu Persaud, Guyana Elections Commission
Guyana Chronicle, http://www.guyanachronicle.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35386%3Ancn-presidential-candidates-debate-cancelled&Itemid=12
Verified: 2015/05/11
ME062
Blackout period for release of opinion poll results.
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: Vishnu Persaud, Guyana Elections Commission
Verified: 2015/05/11
Direct Democracy
Voting Operations
VO003
Electors vote at
Question: Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):
a . At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections h . By proxy
Comments: e) Only in areas of extremely low population density and which are cut off from regular traffic.
h) In special cases eg, hospitalisation.
i) If someone arrives to vote only to find that for whatever reason someone else has voted already in that name. Such votes are not counted.
Source: Representation of the people Act, art. 27, 30
Verified: 2015/05/11
VO011
Voting method
Question: How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):
a . Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source: Representation of the People Act, Art.72
Verified: 2015/05/11
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