Parliament name |
Parliament |
Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
Chamber name |
House of Representatives |
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senate
|
LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
Electoral Law |
1 January 1900 |
Mode of designation |
directly elected 41
other 1 |
Constituencies |
41 single-member constituencies. |
Voting system |
Majority:
Single member plurality systems ("first past the post")
Vacancies arising within the first four years of Parliament's term are filled through by-elections held within 90 days.
Voting is not compulsory. |
Voter requirements |
- age: 18 years
- Trinidad and Tobago citizens
- residence in country for at least one year and in home district and for at least two months prior to poll
- disqualifications: insanity, electoral offence, sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months |
CANDIDATES |
Eligibility |
- age: 18 years
- Trinidad and Tobago citizenship
- residence in country for at least two years immediately before nomination or on election date
- ineligibility: allegiance to a foreign State, undischarged bankruptcy, insanity, sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months, conviction for election-connected offence |
Incompatibilities |
- certain public offices and posts connected with administration of elections
- the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House may not be a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary |
Candidacy requirements |
- nomination by six or more registered electors of the constituency (district)
- deposit of TT$ 5000.00, which is reimbursed if the candidate polls at least one-eighth of the vote in his/her district |