Parties and Candidates

Trinidad and Tobago

PC001

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	d. No registration required
Comments:	Political parties can request the Elections and Boundaries Commission in writing to assign them a symbol to be used in the ballots, for which they must provide the name of the political party, the name and contact details of a responsible person in the party, as well as the name and description of the symbol.
Source:	Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act”, Election Rules, Section 23: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-rop-2016/ ; Elections and Boundaries Commission website: https://www.ebctt.com/services/assigning-political-party-symbols/
Verified:	2020/08/22

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PC003

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship d. Residence j. Other
Comments:	A person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives if... s/he is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago of the age of 18 years or upwards and has resided in Trinidad and Tobago for a period of 2 years immediately before the date of his nomination for election or is domiciled and resident in Trinidad and Tobago at that date. Every candidate must be nominated by 6 or more persons who are registered electors, and an amount of 5,000 TTD must be deposited.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”, Section 47: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-constitution-2016/ ; Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act”, Election Rules, Section 7, 9: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-rop-2016/
Verified:	2020/08/22

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PC008

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:	A candidate for President must be nominated by twelve or more members of the House of Representatives. A candidate for the House of Representatives must be nominated by six or more citizens.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”, Section 30(a): http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-constitution-2016/ ; Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act”, Election Rules, Section 7: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-rop-2016/ ;
Verified:	2020/08/22

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PC012

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	a. No
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA: Political Finance Database: https://www.idea.int/data-tools/country-view/288/55
Verified:	2020/08/22

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PC015

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	g. Not applicable
Comments:	There is no public funding of political parties.
Source:	International IDEA: Political Finance Database: https://www.idea.int/data-tools/country-view/288/55
Verified:	2020/08/22

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PC017

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Electoral Law: “Representation of the People Act”, Section 45(3): http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-rop-2016/
Verified:	2020/08/22

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