Info
Boundary Delimitation
BD001
Delimitation of constituencies
Question: Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Constitution, art. 81: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
BD003
Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question: On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):
i . No information available
Comments:
Source: Constitution, art. 81: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
BD005
Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question: The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):
a . Legislature (1st chamber)
Comments: Electoral constituencies are determined by law.
Source: Constitution, art. 81: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
g . Inherited monarchy
Comments: The Amir is the Head of the State. Kuwait is a hereditary Amirate, the succession to which shall be in the descendants of the late Mubarak al-Sabah.
Source: Constitution, art. 4, 54: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments: The Amir shall, after the traditional consultations, appoint the Prime Minister and relieve him of office. The Amir shall also appoint Ministers and relieve them of office upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Source: Constitution, art. 56: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
b . No
Comments: There is no president. The head of state is the Amir.
Source: Constitution, art. 4, 54: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
a . One chamber
Comments: The legislative power is vested in the Amir and the National Assembly.
Source: Constitution, art. 51, 79, 80: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
c . Block Vote
Comments: Kuwaiti citizens elect fifty (50) Members of Parliament from five (5) electoral districts to the unicameral legislature. The top ten winners from each district are allocated a parliamentary seat.
Source: Constitution, art. 80 (1): http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013);
Official Website of the Kuwait Government: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/national_Assembly/aboutNationalAssembly.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2014/08/22
Legislative Framework
LF001
Status of Electoral Law
Question: What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):
b . Separate legislation
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
LF003
Electoral Law covers
Question: The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):
a . National elections
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
LF004
Compulsory/voluntary voting
Question: Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):
a . Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source: Official Website of the Kuwait Government: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/national_Assembly/aboutNationalAssembly.jsp (2013);
Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 1: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
LF007
Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)
Question: What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):
d . Other
Comments: The General Secretariat of the Council of the Nation
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 41, 42: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
Electoral Management
EM002
Responsibility of national EMB
Question: Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):
a . National level
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 6, 18: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
EM004
EMB budget determined by
Question: The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):
h . No information available
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 6, 18: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
EM005
EMB expenditures controlled by
Question: The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):
h . No information available
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 6, 18: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
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: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 6, 18: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
EM012
Electoral Management model
Question: What is the Electoral Management model?
Answer:
a . Governmental
Comments: The Ministry of Interior Department of Elections
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 6, 18: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
EM013
Number of EMB members
Question: The EMB is composed of:
Answer:
e . Not applicable
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 6, 18: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
EM014
Membership based on
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected on the basis of their:
Answer:
d . Not Applicable
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 6, 18: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
EM015
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected by:
Answer(s):
j . Not Applicable
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 6, 18: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
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):
m . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2013/01/31
VE002
Frequency of voter education programs
Question: At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:
d . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2013/01/31
VE003
National civic education
Question: Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):
m . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2013/01/31
Voter Registration
VR001
Voting age
Question: What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
f . 21
Comments: Suffrage is extended to all Kuwaitis at the age of 21, except those citizens who have been naturalized for less than 20 years and active members of the armed forces.
Source: Official Website of the Kuwait Government: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/national_Assembly/aboutNationalAssembly.jsp (2013);
Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 1: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
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 d . Naturalization e . Other
Comments: Suffrage is extended to all Kuwaitis at the age of 21, except those citizens who have been naturalized for less than 20 years and active members of the armed forces.
Source: Official Website of the Kuwait Government: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/national_Assembly/aboutNationalAssembly.jsp (2013);
Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 1: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
VR004
Authority responsible for voter registration
Question: Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:
a . Central Government Department (specify)
Comments: The Registration Committees of the Ministry of Interior.
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 4 (3), 7, 11: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
VR008
Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Question: Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
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):
h . Not applicable
Comments: Political parties are not allowed in Kuwait.
Source: Democracy Reporting International, Assessment of the Electoral Framework of Kuwait: http://www.democracy-reporting.org/files/dri_kuwait_report_08.pdf (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
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 i . Minimum level of literacy
Comments: A member of the National Assembly shall: be a Kuwaiti by origin; be qualified as an elector in accordance with the electoral law; be not less than thirty calendar years of age on the day of election; be able to read and write Arabic well.
Source: Constitution, art. 82: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
c . In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments: There are no political parties in Kuwait.
Source: Constitution, art. 82: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013);
Democracy Reporting International, Assessment of the Electoral Framework of Kuwait: http://www.democracy-reporting.org/files/dri_kuwait_report_08.pdf (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
f . Not applicable
Comments: There are no political parties in Kuwait.
Source: Democracy Reporting International, Assessment of the Electoral Framework of Kuwait: http://www.democracy-reporting.org/files/dri_kuwait_report_08.pdf (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
g . Not applicable
Comments: There are no political parties in Kuwait.
Source: Democracy Reporting International, Assessment of the Electoral Framework of Kuwait: http://www.democracy-reporting.org/files/dri_kuwait_report_08.pdf (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
d . Not applicable
Comments: There are no political parties in Kuwait.
Source: Democracy Reporting International, Assessment of the Electoral Framework of Kuwait: http://www.democracy-reporting.org/files/dri_kuwait_report_08.pdf (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
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: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 36: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
VC011
When are ballots recounted?
Question: Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):
g . No information available
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
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):
i . Not applicable
Comments: Political parties are not allowed in Kuwait.
Source: Democracy Reporting International, Assessment of the Electoral Framework of Kuwait: http://www.democracy-reporting.org/files/dri_kuwait_report_08.pdf (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
ME059
Television debates
Question: Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):
d . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2013/01/31
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:
Verified: 2013/01/31
ME080
Question: Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:
c . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2013/01/31
Direct Democracy
DD002
Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
DD003
Mandatory referendums (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
DD004
Optional referendums (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
DD005
Citizens' Initiatives (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
DD006
Agenda Initiatives (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
DD007
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
DD129
Question: Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:
e . Not applicable
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
DD130
Question: Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:
e . Not applicable
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
DD131
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Constitution: http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/30
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
Comments:
Source: Kuwait Times Official website: http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/11/20/no-voting-facilities-for-kuwaitis-staying-abroad-students-patients-affected/ (2013);
Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 4 (1): http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
VO004
Voting outside the country is permitted for
Question: Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):
a . Outside the country voting is not permitted
Comments:
Source: Kuwait Times Official website: http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/11/20/no-voting-facilities-for-kuwaitis-staying-abroad-students-patients-affected/ (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/18
VO005
Locations for voting outside of the country
Question: If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):
h . Not applicable
Comments:
Source: Kuwait Times Official website: http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/11/20/no-voting-facilities-for-kuwaitis-staying-abroad-students-patients-affected/ (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/18
VO011
Voting method
Question: How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):
a . Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source: Law No. 35 of 1962 on the election of members of Parliament with its amendments, art. 33: http://www.gcc-legal.org/mojportalpublic/LawAsPDF.aspx?opt&country=1&LawID=2687#Section_3508 (2013)
Verified: 2013/01/31
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