Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Barlamane / Parliament |
Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
Electoral Law |
7 October 1991 Last amendment: 2006 (ordonnance 2006-028) |
Mode of designation |
directly elected 147 |
Constituencies |
- 45 regional constituencies for a total of 81 seats
- one 14-seat nationwide constituency reserved for political parties |
Voting system |
Mixed:
Mixed system
The candidate lists for two-member constituencies must comprise at least one candidate of each sex. Those for the three-member constituencies should include at least one woman candidate in the first or the second place on the list. The list for larger constituencies should comprise a candidate of each gender alternately.
Majority vote for single-member and two-member constituencies
- For single-member constituencies: majoritarian system. A run-off election is held if no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first round. An absolute majority is no longer required in the run-off. If two candidates receive the same number of votes, the oldest candidate is elected.
- For two-seat constituencies: majoritarian system. Any list obtaining an absolute majority is awarded the two seats. A run-off election is held if no list obtains an absolute majority in the first round. An absolute majority is no longer required in the run-off.
Proportional representation system (closed list) for constituencies with three or more seats: seats are allocated on the basis of the largest remainder system.
Voting is not compulsory. |
Voter requirements |
- age: 18
- Mauritanian citizenship
- full possession of civil and political rights
- residence for six months or more in home district
- disqualifications: insanity, undischarged bankrupts, criminals, imprisonment |
CANDIDATES |
Eligibility |
- qualified electors
- age: 25
- Mauritanian citizenship
- ineligibility: naturalization for less than 10 years, conviction for electoral fraud |
Incompatibilities |
- members of the Government
- holders of certain other public offices |
Candidacy requirements |
- candidacies may be submitted by duly registered political parties or coalitions of political groups, and by independent candidates or groups of independent candidates
- deposit of 20,000 ougiyas, reimbursed if the candidate or the political party obtains at least 5 per cent of the votes cast in the constituency |