Parliament name |
National Assembly |
Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
Electoral Law |
19 April 1996 |
Mode of designation |
directly elected 53
appointed 5 |
Constituencies |
Seven administrative areas carved up into 53 single-member constituencies. |
Voting system |
Majority:
Simple majority vote.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections held within 90 days. No by-elections are held in the last nine months of the Assembly's term.
Voting is not compulsory
|
Voter requirements |
- age: 18 years
- Gambian citizenship
- residence or birth in constituency where registered
- disqualifications: allegiance to a foreign State, insanity, sentence of imprisonment, registration as voter in another country |
CANDIDATES |
Eligibility |
Qualified electors
- age: 21 years
- Gambian citizenship
- ordinary residence of at least one year in constituency where running
- declaration of assets to Independent Electoral Commission as required by law
- ability to speak English well enough to take part in the proceedings of the Assembly
- ineligibility: undischarged bankrupts, sentence of death or imprisonment of at least six months (in the preceding 5 years), certain government contractors, electoral offence
|
Incompatibilities |
- magistrates and judges
- members of the armed, police or security forces
- members of the Independent Electoral Commission |
Candidacy requirements |
- nomination by at least 300 voters of the same constituency
- monetary deposit of 5,000 dalasis, reimbursed if candidate is successful or obtains at least 20% of the votes cast for the elected candidate |