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{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Politics of Bolivia}}
{{Politics of Bolivia}}
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[[Bolivia]] elects on national level a [[head of state]] &ndash; the [[President of Bolivia|president]] &ndash; and a [[legislature]]. The president and the vice-president are elected for a five-year term by the people. The [[National Congress of Bolivia|National Congress]] (''Congreso Nacional'') has two [[bicameralism|chambers]]. The [[Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia|Chamber of Deputies]] (''Cámara de Diputados'') has 130 members, elected for a five-year term using a two vote [[seat linkage]] compensatory system (for [[mixed-member proportional representation]]) and in the case of seven indigenous seats by ''[[usos y costumbres]]''. The [[Senate of Bolivia|Chamber of Senators]] (''Cámara de Senadores'') has 36 members: each of the country's [[Departments of Bolivia|nine departments]] returns four senators allocated proportionally.<ref name=RegimenElectoral>{{cite web|title=Bolivia: Ley del Régimen Electoral, 30 de junio de 2010|url=http://www.lexivox.org/norms/BO-L-N26.xhtml|website=Lexivox|access-date=10 February 2015}}</ref>
'''Elections in Bolivia''' gives information on [[election]]s and election results in [[politics of Bolivia|Bolivia]].

⚫
Bolivia elects on national level a [[head of state]] &ndash; the [[President of Bolivia|president]] &ndash; and a [[legislature]]. The president and the vice-president are elected for a five-year term by the people. The [[National Congress of Bolivia|National Congress]] (''Congreso Nacional'') has two [[bicameralism|chambers]]. The [[Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia|Chamber of Deputies]] (''Cámara de Diputados'') has 130 members, elected for a five-year term using the [[Additional Member System]], and in the case of seven indigenous seats by ''[[usos y costumbres]]''. The [[Senate of Bolivia|Chamber of Senators]] (''Cámara de Senadores'') has 36 members: each of the country's [[Departments of Bolivia|nine departments]] returns four senators allocated proportionally.<ref name=RegimenElectoral>{{cite web|title=Bolivia: Ley del Régimen Electoral, 30 de junio de 2010|url=http://www.lexivox.org/norms/BO-L-N26.xhtml|website=Lexivox|accessdate=10 February 2015}}</ref>


Bolivia has a [[multi-party]] system, with numerous [[political parties|parties]]. During the first 23 years of renewed democracy beginning 1982, no one party succeeded in gaining power alone, and [[political parties|parties]] had to work with each other to form [[coalition government]]s. Since 2005, a single party has achieved a parliamentary majority.
Bolivia has a [[multi-party]] system, with numerous [[political parties|parties]]. During the first 23 years of renewed democracy beginning 1982, no one party succeeded in gaining power alone, and [[political parties|parties]] had to work with each other to form [[coalition government]]s. Since 2005, a single party has achieved a parliamentary majority.
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==Schedule==
==Schedule==
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{{update-section|date=February 2015}}

===Election===
===Election===
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{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
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===Inauguration===
===Inauguration===
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{{update-section|date=February 2015}}

{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
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==Electoral system==
==Electoral system==
The president is directly elected by the people, by majority. A candidate has to receive at least 50% of the vote, or 40% of the vote, and 10% more than the second candidate to be elected, otherwise a [[Two-round system|second round]] is held with the top two finishers to determine the winner.
The president is directly elected by modified [[First-past-the-post voting|first-preference plurality]] system. A candidate has to receive at least 50% of the vote, or 40% of the vote, and 10% more than the second candidate to be elected, otherwise a [[Two-round system|second round]] is held with the top two finishers to determine the winner.


The 130 members in the [[Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia|Chamber of Deputies]] (''Cámara de Diputados'') (excluding the seven special seats) are elected using the [[Additional Member System|additional member system]]. 63 seats are elected in single-member districts using [[first-past-the-post]] voting. 60 additional seats are elected using [[closed list]] [[party-list proportional representation]] in districts of varying sizes corresponding to Bolivia's nine departments. For parties receiving at least 3% of the national vote, the seats are distributed using the [[D'Hondt method]], subtracting the number of seats the respective party gained from the single-member districts in the respective department. If one party has [[Overhang seat|more seats]] from the single-member districts alone than the proportion of list vote it received, the extra seats are taken from the last allocated list seats.
The 130 members in the [[Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia|Chamber of Deputies]] (''Cámara de Diputados'') are elected using a [[seat linkage]] based mixed [[Compensation (electoral systems)|compensatory]] system using two votes: 63 deputies are elected by [[First-past-the-post voting|first-preference plurality]] to represent single-member [[Electoral district|electoral districts]], 60 are elected by [[closed list]] [[party-list proportional representation]] from party lists on a departmental basis (in districts of varying sizes corresponding to Bolivia's nine departments with a threshold of 3%).<ref name="RegimenElectoral2">{{cite web |title=Bolivia: Ley del Régimen Electoral, 30 de junio de 2010 |url=http://www.lexivox.org/norms/BO-L-N26.xhtml |access-date=10 February 2015 |website=Lexivox}}</ref> The list seats in each region are awarded proportionally based on the vote for the presidential candidates, subtracting the number of single-member districts won (to provide [[mixed-member proportional representation]]). The remaining seven seats are reserved indigenous seats elected by the ''[[usos y costumbres]]''. A voter can only vote in one of either the normal constituencies or special constituencies ([[Coexistence (electoral systems)|coexistence]]).<ref name="RegimenElectoral2" /> Party lists are required to alternate between men and women, and in the single-member districts, men are required to run with a female alternate, and vice versa. At least 50% of the deputies from single-member districts are required to be women.<ref name="RegimenElectoral" />


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The [[Senate of Bolivia|Chamber of Senators]] (''Cámara de Senadores'') has 36 members, four from each the country's nine departments, which are also elected using closed party-lists, using the [[D'Hondt method]].<ref name="RegimenElectoral2" /> The senate seats are also awarded based on the vote for president.
The remaining seven seats are reserved indigenous seats elected by the ''[[usos y costumbres]]'', using first-past-the-post voting. A voter can only vote in one of either the normal constituencies or special constituencies.


The election uses the same votes to elect the President (first round), the Chamber and the Senate, making it a [[Double simultaneous vote|double (triple) simultaneous vote]]. Voters may therefore not [[Split-ticket voting|split their ticket]] between these elections, but they may vote for a candidate of a different list in the election of the Chamber as the deputies from the single-member districts are elected using separate votes.
⚫
The [[Senate of Bolivia|Chamber of Senators]] (''Cámara de Senadores'') has 36 members, four from each the country's nine departments, which are also elected using closed party-lists, using the [[D'Hondt method]].<ref name="RegimenElectoral"/>

Both the senate, and the proportional part of the Chamber of Deputies is elected based on the vote for the presidential candidates, while the deputies from the single-member districts are elected using separate votes. Party lists are required to alternate between men and women, while candidates in single-member districts are required to have an alternate, of the opposite sex. At least 50% of the single-member deputies are required to be women <ref name=RegimenElectoral />


==History of elections in Bolivia==
==History of elections in Bolivia==
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===Expanding electorate, 1938-1951===
===Expanding electorate, 1938-1951===
Under the Constitution of 1938, property restrictions on voting were removed however the vote was still restricted to those who male, literate, and of age. Elections were held in 1940 and 1951, and saw a dramatic expansion of the electorate.
Under the Constitution of 1938, property restrictions on voting were removed however the vote was still restricted to those who were male, literate, and of age. Elections were held in 1940 and 1951, and saw a dramatic expansion of the electorate.


===Universal suffrage and interruptions in democracy, 1952-79===
===Universal suffrage and interruptions in democracy, 1952-79===
Shortly after coming to power through the 1952 Revolution, the [[National Revolutionary Movement]] instituted [[universal suffrage]], ending literacy requirements and racial restrictions which had massively reduced the Bolivian electorate up to that time. General elections were held in 1956, 1960, and 1964; and purely legislative elections were held in 1958 and 1962. Democracy was interrupted in 1964 by René Barrientos Ortuño, who proceeded to hold and win an election in 1966 and to convoke the [[Bolivian Constituent Assembly of 1966-67|Constituent Assembly of 1966-67]] to rewrite the [[Constitution of Bolivia]].<ref name=Cordero27>{{Cite book | publisher = Corte Nacional Electoral | last = Cordero Carraffa | first = Carlos Hugo | title = Historia Electoral de Bolivia: 1952-2007 | series = Cuadernos de trabajo | date = February 2007 | url = http://www.cne.org.bo/centro_doc/cuadernos_tra/cuaderno_tra4_historia_electoral.pdf | page = 27 }}</ref> Following Barrientos' death in 1969, democracy was further interrupted by military rule until 1979, including the eight-year dictatorship of [[Hugo Bánzer Suarez]].
Shortly after coming to power through the {{Interlanguage link|Bolivian Revolution of 1952|es|Revolución boliviana de 1952}}, the [[National Revolutionary Movement]] instituted [[universal suffrage]], ending literacy requirements and racial restrictions which had massively reduced the Bolivian electorate up to that time. General elections were held in 1956, 1960, and 1964; and purely legislative elections were held in 1958 and 1962. Democracy was interrupted in 1964 by [[René Barrientos Ortuño]], who proceeded to hold and win an election in 1966 and to convoke the [[Bolivian Constituent Assembly of 1966-67|Constituent Assembly of 1966-67]] to rewrite the [[Constitution of Bolivia]].<ref name=Cordero27>{{Cite book | publisher = Corte Nacional Electoral | last = Cordero Carraffa | first = Carlos Hugo | title = Historia Electoral de Bolivia: 1952-2007 | series = Cuadernos de trabajo | date = February 2007 | url = http://www.cne.org.bo/centro_doc/cuadernos_tra/cuaderno_tra4_historia_electoral.pdf | page = 27 }}</ref> Following Barrientos' death in 1969, democracy was further interrupted by military rule until 1979, including the eight-year dictatorship of [[Hugo Bánzer Suarez]].


===Democratic transition and final dictatorship, 1979-82===
===Democratic transition and final dictatorship, 1979-82===
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===Multiparty democracy, 1982-present===
===Multiparty democracy, 1982-present===
Elections have been held regularly in the democratic period that began in 1982. General elections were held in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2005, and 2009.<ref name=Cordero27 /> A [[Bolivian Constituent Assembly of 2006-2007|Constituent Assembly]] was elected in 2006. The 1985 Organic Law of Municipalities restored local elections for mayor and created a legislative body, the municipal council, in each municipality.<ref>{{Cite journal | volume = XI | issue = 20 | pages = 61–95 [68] | last = Córdova | first = Eduardo | title = Cochabamba es el centro es la ausencia: Impulsos estatales y sociales de la descentralización en Cochabamba (1994–2008) | journal = Decursos: Revista de Ciencias Sociales | year = 2009 }}</ref> The first local elections were held in 1987, followed by further elections in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004, and 2010. Similarly, departmental elections for Prefect began in 2006 and elections for Departmental Legislative Assemblies began in 2010. Following the passage of the 2009 Constitution, the National Electoral Court was replaced in late 2010 by a fourth branch of government, the [[Plurinational Electoral Organ]], whose highest body is the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
Elections have been held regularly in the democratic period that began in 1982. General elections were held in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2005, and 2009.<ref name=Cordero27 /> A [[Bolivian Constituent Assembly of 2006-2007|Constituent Assembly]] was elected in 2006. The 1985 Organic Law of Municipalities restored local elections for mayor and created a legislative body, the municipal council, in each municipality.<ref>{{Cite journal | volume = XI | issue = 20 | pages = 61–95 [68] | last = Córdova | first = Eduardo | title = Cochabamba es el centro es la ausencia: Impulsos estatales y sociales de la descentralización en Cochabamba (1994–2008) | journal = Decursos: Revista de Ciencias Sociales | year = 2009 }}</ref> The first local elections were held in 1987, followed by further elections in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004, and 2010. Similarly, departmental elections for Prefect began in 2006 and elections for Departmental Legislative Assemblies began in 2010. Following the passage of the 2009 Constitution, the National Electoral Court was replaced in late 2010 by a fourth branch of government, the [[Plurinational Electoral Organ]], whose highest body is the [[Plurinational Electoral Organ#Supreme Electoral Court|Supreme Electoral Court]].


==Latest elections==
==Latest elections==


=== 2016 Presidential re-election referendum ===
=== 2020 Bolivian general election ===
{{Main| 2016 Bolivian constitutional referendum}}
{{Main|2020 Bolivian general election}}
On February 21, 2016, Bolivian voters rejected<ref>{{cite web|title=Referendo constitucional 2016: Resultados preliminares|url=http://www.oep.org.bo/resultados/|website=Órgano electoral plurinacional|publisher=Tribunal Supremo Electoral|accessdate=11 March 2016|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312025841/http://www.oep.org.bo/resultados/|archivedate=12 March 2016|df=}}</ref> an amendment to the [[Constitution of Bolivia|country's constitution]] that would have allowed President [[Evo Morales]] and Vice President [[Álvaro García Linera]] to run again for re-election in 2019. The amendment, if approved, would have removed Article 168 of the constitution, which allows these officeholders to put themselves forward for re-election only once. The proposed constitutional reform was approved by a combined session of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly on September 26, 2015, by a vote of 112 to 41.<ref>{{Cite web| title = La ALP sancionó la Ley de Reforma parcial de la CPE| work = Vicepresidencia del Estado| accessdate = 2015-11-06| date = 2015-09-26| url = http://www.vicepresidencia.gob.bo/La-ALP-sanciono-la-Ley-de-Reforma-parcial-de-la-CPE}}</ref> Law 757, which convenes the February referendum, was passed 113 to 43, and was promulgated on November 5, 2015.<ref name=R>[https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/26/us-bolivia-presidency-idUSKCN0RQ0SL20150926 Bolivia passes law to allow Morales to run for fourth term] Reuters, 25 September 2015</ref> On February 24, Morales accepted the defeat of the proposed constitutional reform.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Casey|first1=Nicholas|title=Bolivian President Concedes Defeat in Term-Limit Referendum|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/world/americas/bolivian-president-evo-morales-concedes-defeat-in-term-limit-referendum.html?_r=0|accessdate=11 March 2016|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company|date=24 Feb 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bolivia's Morales admits loss in referendum on term limits|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35651063|accessdate=11 March 2016|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=24 Feb 2016}}</ref>


On 18 October 2020, Bolivian voters elected [[Luis Arce]], leader of Evo Morales' MAS-IPSP, as Bolivia's president with 55% of the vote in the first round. Arce's main opponents, [[Carlos Mesa]] and [[Luis Fernando Camacho]], received 29% and 14% of the vote, respectively. Arce took the office of president on 8 November 2020.

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=== 2017 Bolivian judicial election ===
⚫
{{Main|2017 Bolivian judicial election}}

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=== 2021 Bolivian regional elections ===
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{{Main|2021 Bolivian regional elections}}

== Other elections and referendum ==
<!-- Place here only those that don't have articles of their own -->
=== 2015 Autonomy referendum ===
=== 2015 Autonomy referendum ===
On September 20, 2015, five western and central departments—Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí—voted on whether to approve "organic charters" (constitutions of autonomous governance), as did three municipalities and two indigenous territories.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tse.oep.org.bo/index.php/referendo2015|title=Referendo para Aprobación de Estatutos Autonómicos y Cartas Orgánicas 2015|last=|first=|date=|website=Tribunal Supremo Electoral|publisher=|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314014045/http://tse.oep.org.bo/index.php/referendo2015|archive-date=2016-03-14|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref> Voters in all five departments rejected their charters of autonomy, which were drafted by MAS-IPSP–led legislatures.
On September 20, 2015, five western and central departments—Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí—voted on whether to approve "organic charters" (constitutions of autonomous governance), as did three municipalities and two indigenous territories.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tse.oep.org.bo/index.php/referendo2015|title=Referendo para Aprobación de Estatutos Autonómicos y Cartas Orgánicas 2015|website=Tribunal Supremo Electoral|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314014045/http://tse.oep.org.bo/index.php/referendo2015|archive-date=2016-03-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> Voters in all five departments rejected their charters of autonomy, which were drafted by MAS-IPSP–led legislatures.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Department
!Department
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|79.2%
|79.2%
|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Sources: {{Cite news|title=Referendo autonómico: A cómputo final ganó el No en cinco departamentos|work=Agencia de Noticias Fides|accessdate=2016-03-13|date=2015-09-25|url=http://www.noticiasfides.com/sociedad/referendo-autonomico-a-computo-final-gano-el-no-en-cinco-departamentos-357356/}}
| colspan="10" |Sources: {{Cite news|title=Referendo autonómico: A cómputo final ganó el No en cinco departamentos|work=Agencia de Noticias Fides|access-date=2016-03-13|date=2015-09-25|url=http://www.noticiasfides.com/sociedad/referendo-autonomico-a-computo-final-gano-el-no-en-cinco-departamentos-357356/}}
|}
|}

=== 2015 Regional election ===
⚫
{{main|2015 Bolivian regional elections}}

===2014 General election===
{{main|2014 Bolivian general election}}
The last election for national executive and legislative offices, including president and vice president and the [[Plurinational Legislative Assembly]] was held in late 2014, with new terms beginning 2015. In September 2010, President [[Evo Morales]] suggested he was eligible to run for re-election in 2014. However, Bolivian presidents are only eligible to be re-elected to one successive term under Article 168 of the Constitution. Morales and his supporters argued that his first term, 2006–10, was incomplete. [[Juan del Granado]], leader of the Without Fear Movement (MSM), challenged its former ally, the Movement towards Socialism to carry out a constitutional referendum if it wanted Morales to stand for re-election.<ref>{{Cite news
|pages = A1, A2
|title = Del Granado reta a Evo a ir a referéndum
|work = Los Tiempos
|location = Cochabamba
|accessdate = 2010-09-25
|date = 2010-09-23
|url = http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/politica/20100923/del-granado-reta-a-evo-a-ir-a-referendum_90933_174956.html
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120229171553/http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/politica/20100923/del-granado-reta-a-evo-a-ir-a-referendum_90933_174956.html
|archive-date = 2012-02-29
|dead-url = yes
|df =
}}</ref> Morales proceeded to win the election with a large margin.
{{Bolivian general election, 2014}}

===2011 Judicial election===
⚫
{{Main|2011 Bolivian judicial election}}
The first Bolivian judicial election is scheduled to be held on 5 December 2010. However, officials of the [[Plurinational Electoral Organ#Supreme Electoral Tribunal|Supreme Electoral Tribunal]] and of the MAS majority in the [[Plurinational Legislative Assembly]] have suggested that it will be delayed into 2011.<ref>"Ley aplaza elección de autoridades judiciales," ''La Razón'', 12 August 2010.</ref> The national vote will elect magistrates to serve on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ({{lang-es|Tribunal Supremo de Justicia}}), the Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal ({{lang-es|Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional}}), the Agro-environmental Tribunal ({{lang-es|Tribunal Agroambiental}}), and members of the Council of the Judiciary ({{lang-es|Consejo de la Magistratura}}).<ref>"[http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/nacional/20100205/elecciones-judiciales-seran-el-5-diciembre_56658_101233.html Elecciones judiciales serán el 5 diciembre] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206221008/http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/nacional/20100205/elecciones-judiciales-seran-el-5-diciembre_56658_101233.html |date=2010-02-06 }}," ''Los Tiempos'', 5 February 2010.</ref>


===2011 Special municipal election===
===2011 Special municipal election===
{{Main|2011 Bolivian special municipal election}}
{{Main|2011 Bolivian special municipal election}}
A special election is due be held for the mayor of five cities where mayors have stepped down or been indicted. In July 2011, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal formally convoked the elections for mayor in three cities: Sucre, Quillacollo, and Pazña for December 18, 2011.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Convocan a comicios electorales en 3 municipios | work = Página Siete | accessdate = 2011-07-22 | date = 2011-07-22 | url = http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-07-22/Nacional/Destacados/200000422.aspx | deadurl = yes | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317125140/http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-07-22/Nacional/Destacados/200000422.aspx | archivedate = 2012-03-17 | df = }}</ref>
A special election is due be held for the mayor of five cities where mayors have stepped down or been indicted. In July 2011, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal formally convoked the elections for mayor in three cities: Sucre, Quillacollo, and Pazña for December 18, 2011.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Convocan a comicios electorales en 3 municipios | work = Página Siete | access-date = 2011-07-22 | date = 2011-07-22 | url = http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-07-22/Nacional/Destacados/200000422.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317125140/http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-07-22/Nacional/Destacados/200000422.aspx | archive-date = 2012-03-17 }}</ref>
{| class = "wikitable"
{| class = "wikitable"
|-
|-
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|[[Punata]], Cochabamba
|[[Punata]], Cochabamba
|Víctor Balderrama (Insurgente Martín Uchu)
|Víctor Balderrama (Insurgente Martín Uchu)
|Suspended under indictment for aggravated rape of a minor on August 10, 2010 (convicted September 2011<ref>{{Cite news | title = Condenan con 25 años de prisión al Alcalde suspendido de Punata | work = La Razón | accessdate = 2011-08-08 | date = 2011-08-08 | url = http://www.la-razon.com/version.php?ArticleId=135257&EditionId=2615 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>); pledged to resign to allow new elections
|Suspended under indictment for aggravated rape of a minor on August 10, 2010 (convicted September 2011<ref>{{Cite news | title = Condenan con 25 años de prisión al Alcalde suspendido de Punata | work = La Razón | access-date = 2011-08-08 | date = 2011-08-08 | url = http://www.la-razon.com/version.php?ArticleId=135257&EditionId=2615 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>); pledged to resign to allow new elections
|-
|-
|[[Pazña Municipality|Pazña]], Oruro
|[[Pazña Municipality|Pazña]], Oruro
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|-
|-
|}
|}

===2010 Regional election===
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{{Main|2010 Bolivian regional election}}
Departmental and municipal authorities will be elected on 4 April 2010. Among the officials to be elected are:
* Governors of all nine [[Departments of Bolivia|departments]]
* Members of Departamental Legislative Assemblies in each department; 23 seats in these Assemblies will represent indigenous communities, and have been selected by traditional [[usos y costumbres]] in the weeks prior to the election
* Provincial Subgovernors and Municipal Corregidors (executive authorities) in [[Beni Department|Beni]]
* Sectional Development Executives at the provincial level in [[Tarija Department|Tarija]]
* Mayors and Council members in all 337 [[Municipalities of Bolivia|municipalities]]<ref>Corte Nacional Electoral, [http://www.cne.org.bo/proces_electoral/Municipales2010/campinformativa/separataDM101.pdf Elecciones departamentales y municipales 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718043314/http://www.cne.org.bo/proces_electoral/Municipales2010/campinformativa/separataDM101.pdf |date=2010-07-18 }}.</ref>
* The five members of the Regional Assembly in the autonomous region of [[Gran Chaco Province|Gran Chaco]]

The political parties contesting elections in each department are as follows:
*'''[[Beni Department|Beni]]''': [[Amazon Convergence]] (''Convergencia Amazónica''), [[Beni First]] (''Primero El Beni''), [[Revolutionary Nationalist Movement]] (''Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario''; MNR), [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]] (''Movimiento Al Socialismo - Instrumento Político por la Soberanía de los Pueblos''; MAS-IPSP), and [[Autonomous Nationalities for Change and Empowerment]] (''Nacionalidades Autónomas por el Cambio y Empoderamiento''; NACER).
*'''[[Chuquisaca Department|Chuquisaca]]''':[[We are all Chuquisaca]] (''Chuquisaca somos Todos''), [[Renewing Freedom and Democracy]] (''Libertad y Democracia Renovadora''), Falange April 19, [[Without Fear Movement]] (''Movimiento sin Miedo''; MSM), and [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]].
*'''[[Cochabamba Department|Cochabamba]]''': [[All for Cochabamba]] (''Todos por Cochabamba''), [[Revolutionary Nationalist Movement]], [[Without Fear Movement]], and [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]].
*'''[[La Paz Department, Bolivia|La Paz]]''':[[National Unity Front]] (''Frente de Unidad Nacional''), [[Patriotic Social Alliance]] (''Alianza Social Patriótica''), [[Revolutionary Nationalist Movement]], [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]], [[Without Fear Movement]], and [[Movement for Sovereignty]] (''Movimiento por la Soberanía'').
*'''[[Oruro Department|Oruro]]''': [[National Unity Front]] (''Frente de Unidad Nacional''), [[Revolutionary Nationalist Movement]], [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]], and [[Without Fear Movement]].
*'''[[Pando Department|Pando]]''': [[Popular Consenus (Pando)|Popular Consensus]] (''Consenso Popular''), [[Without Fear Movement]], and [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]].
*'''[[Potosí Department|Potosí]]''': [[Potosí Regional Civic Front]] (''Frente Cívico Regional Potosinista''), [[Uqarikuna Citizen Association]] (''Agrupación Ciudadana Uqarikuna''), [[Social Alliance]] (''Alianza Social''), [[Revolutionary Nationalist Movement]], [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]].
*'''[[Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)|Santa Cruz]]''': Broad Front of [[Revolutionary Nationalist Movement]] and [[Autonomy for Bolivia]] (''Frente Amplio''), [[All for Santa Cruz]] (''Todos por Santa Cruz''), [[Nationalist Citizen Force]] (''Fuerza Ciudadana Nacionalista''), [[Greens (Santa Cruz, Bolivia)|Greens]] (''Verdes''), [[Without Fear Movement]], and [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]].
*'''[[Tarija Department|Tarija]]''': [[Path towards Change]] (''Camino al Cambio (Alianza Departamental)''), [[National Autonomous Power]] (''Poder Autonómico Nacional''), and [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement towards Socialism]].<ref>Corte Nacional Electoral, [http://www.cne.org.bo/proces_electoral/Municipales2010/campinformativa/separataDM103.pdf ¿Qué eligiremos el 4 de abril?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718043106/http://www.cne.org.bo/proces_electoral/Municipales2010/campinformativa/separataDM103.pdf |date=2010-07-18 }}.</ref>

===2009 General election===
⚫
{{Main|2009 Bolivian general election}}
{{Bolivian general election, 2009}}

===2009 Constitutional referendum===
{{Main|2009 Bolivian constitutional referendum}}

In elections held on 25 January 2009, Bolivian voters approved a new [[Constitution of Bolivia|Constitution]].
{{Bolivian constitutional referendum, 2009}}

===2008 Revocation referendum===
{{Main|2008 Bolivian vote of confidence referendum}}
{{Bolivian vote of confidence referendum, 2008}}

==Past elections==

===2006 Constituent Assembly election===
{{Main|2006 Bolivian Constituent Assembly election}}

===2005 Presidential election===
{{Main|2005 Bolivian presidential election}}
{{Bolivian presidential election, 2005}}

===2005 Parliamentary election===
{{Main|2005 Bolivian legislative election}}
{{Bolivian parliamentary election, 2005}}


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 13:24, 5 September 2024

Politics of Bolivia
Constitution
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
flag Bolivia portal

Bolivia elects on national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president and the vice-president are elected for a five-year term by the people. The National Congress (Congreso Nacional) has two chambers. The Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) has 130 members, elected for a five-year term using a two vote seat linkage compensatory system (for mixed-member proportional representation) and in the case of seven indigenous seats by usos y costumbres. The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) has 36 members: each of the country's nine departments returns four senators allocated proportionally.[1]

Bolivia has a multi-party system, with numerous parties. During the first 23 years of renewed democracy beginning 1982, no one party succeeded in gaining power alone, and parties had to work with each other to form coalition governments. Since 2005, a single party has achieved a parliamentary majority.

Ahead of any national election a period of prohibition takes effect. This is with the intention of preventing inebriated nationals voting in error. Nationals are also forbidden from travelling around during the same period. This is to prevent voters from voting in more than one district. On polling day it is difficult to obtain a taxi or bus, due to the limitations placed upon travel and transport.

Schedule

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Election

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Position 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Type Presidential and National Congress (December 6) Regional (April) Judicial (October 16) only special elections Presidential and National Congress (October 12) Regional (April)
President and
vice president 		President and vice president None President and vice president None
National Congress All seats None All seats None
Departments, provinces, and municipalities None All positions None All positions

Inauguration

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Position 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Type Presidential (November)
National Congress (November)
Gubernatorial (November)		 None Presidential (November)
National Congress (November)
Gubernatorial (November)
President and
vice president 		6 November None 6 November
National Congress 6 November None 6 November
Provinces, cities and municipalities 6 November None 6 November

Electoral system

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The president is directly elected by modified first-preference plurality system. A candidate has to receive at least 50% of the vote, or 40% of the vote, and 10% more than the second candidate to be elected, otherwise a second round is held with the top two finishers to determine the winner.

The 130 members in the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) are elected using a seat linkage based mixed compensatory system using two votes: 63 deputies are elected by first-preference plurality to represent single-member electoral districts, 60 are elected by closed list party-list proportional representation from party lists on a departmental basis (in districts of varying sizes corresponding to Bolivia's nine departments with a threshold of 3%).[2] The list seats in each region are awarded proportionally based on the vote for the presidential candidates, subtracting the number of single-member districts won (to provide mixed-member proportional representation). The remaining seven seats are reserved indigenous seats elected by the usos y costumbres. A voter can only vote in one of either the normal constituencies or special constituencies (coexistence).[2] Party lists are required to alternate between men and women, and in the single-member districts, men are required to run with a female alternate, and vice versa. At least 50% of the deputies from single-member districts are required to be women.[1]

The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) has 36 members, four from each the country's nine departments, which are also elected using closed party-lists, using the D'Hondt method.[2] The senate seats are also awarded based on the vote for president.

The election uses the same votes to elect the President (first round), the Chamber and the Senate, making it a double (triple) simultaneous vote. Voters may therefore not split their ticket between these elections, but they may vote for a candidate of a different list in the election of the Chamber as the deputies from the single-member districts are elected using separate votes.

History of elections in Bolivia

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Indirect elections, 1825-50

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Elections were conducted in the early Republican period using multiple levels of electors, each of which would elect members of the next higher level, culminating in the president.[3]

Direct elections with restricted suffrage, 1839 and 1850-1938

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In the elections of 1839, however, the president was elected by a majority of all voters. This system became the norm beginning in 1850. Voting requirements included a minimum property or income or service in one of the professions, and forbid all those "in domestic service" from voting. Indigenous peoples were effectively excluded from the franchise.

Expanding electorate, 1938-1951

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Under the Constitution of 1938, property restrictions on voting were removed however the vote was still restricted to those who were male, literate, and of age. Elections were held in 1940 and 1951, and saw a dramatic expansion of the electorate.

Universal suffrage and interruptions in democracy, 1952-79

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Shortly after coming to power through the Bolivian Revolution of 1952 [es], the National Revolutionary Movement instituted universal suffrage, ending literacy requirements and racial restrictions which had massively reduced the Bolivian electorate up to that time. General elections were held in 1956, 1960, and 1964; and purely legislative elections were held in 1958 and 1962. Democracy was interrupted in 1964 by René Barrientos Ortuño, who proceeded to hold and win an election in 1966 and to convoke the Constituent Assembly of 1966-67 to rewrite the Constitution of Bolivia.[4] Following Barrientos' death in 1969, democracy was further interrupted by military rule until 1979, including the eight-year dictatorship of Hugo Bánzer Suarez.

Democratic transition and final dictatorship, 1979-82

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In a chaotic period of transition marked by numerous coups d'état, three elections were held in 1978, 1979, 1980. Parliamentary majorities were not obtained in 1978 and 1979 and alliance building was interrupted by coups. Lydia Gueiler, an elected member of the National Congress assumed power constitutionally from November 1979 to mid-1980. The results of the 1980 elections were the basis for the post-1982 parliament and the 1982–85 government of Hernán Siles Zuazo.

Multiparty democracy, 1982-present

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Elections have been held regularly in the democratic period that began in 1982. General elections were held in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2005, and 2009.[4] A Constituent Assembly was elected in 2006. The 1985 Organic Law of Municipalities restored local elections for mayor and created a legislative body, the municipal council, in each municipality.[5] The first local elections were held in 1987, followed by further elections in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004, and 2010. Similarly, departmental elections for Prefect began in 2006 and elections for Departmental Legislative Assemblies began in 2010. Following the passage of the 2009 Constitution, the National Electoral Court was replaced in late 2010 by a fourth branch of government, the Plurinational Electoral Organ, whose highest body is the Supreme Electoral Court.

Latest elections

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2020 Bolivian general election

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Main article: 2020 Bolivian general election

On 18 October 2020, Bolivian voters elected Luis Arce, leader of Evo Morales' MAS-IPSP, as Bolivia's president with 55% of the vote in the first round. Arce's main opponents, Carlos Mesa and Luis Fernando Camacho, received 29% and 14% of the vote, respectively. Arce took the office of president on 8 November 2020.

2017 Bolivian judicial election

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Main article: 2017 Bolivian judicial election

2021 Bolivian regional elections

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Main article: 2021 Bolivian regional elections

Other elections and referendum

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2015 Autonomy referendum

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On September 20, 2015, five western and central departments—Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí—voted on whether to approve "organic charters" (constitutions of autonomous governance), as did three municipalities and two indigenous territories.[6] Voters in all five departments rejected their charters of autonomy, which were drafted by MAS-IPSP–led legislatures.

Department Yes votes % No votes % Blank Null Total ballots cast Eligible voters Turnout as % of electorate
Cochabamba 335,464 38.42% 537,706 61.58% 17,910 57,930 949,010 1,137,872 83.4%
Chuquisaca 99,819 42.57% 134,652 57.43% 5,917 18,057 267,445 324,587
La Paz 425,605 31.94% 906,759 68.06% 30,159 88,885 1,026,228
Oruro 59,119 25.98% 168,443 74.02% 5,800 14,064 297,217
Potosí 93,705 31.92% 199,823 68.08% 8,278 21,546 323,352 408,131 79.2%
Sources: "Referendo autonómico: A cómputo final ganó el No en cinco departamentos". Agencia de Noticias Fides. 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2016-03-13.

2011 Special municipal election

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Main article: 2011 Bolivian special municipal election

A special election is due be held for the mayor of five cities where mayors have stepped down or been indicted. In July 2011, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal formally convoked the elections for mayor in three cities: Sucre, Quillacollo, and Pazña for December 18, 2011.[7]

City Outgoing Mayor (Party) Notes
Sucre, Chuquisaca Jaime Barrón (PAÍS) Resigned in July 2010 under indictment for May 24, 2008 violence
Quillacollo, Cochabamba Héctor Cartagena (UNE)
Punata, Cochabamba Víctor Balderrama (Insurgente Martín Uchu) Suspended under indictment for aggravated rape of a minor on August 10, 2010 (convicted September 2011[8]); pledged to resign to allow new elections
Pazña, Oruro Víctor Centeno (MAS-IPSP) Resigned on 15 June 2010 under "psychological pressure and regional divisions"[9]
Catacora, La Paz

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bolivia: Ley del Régimen Electoral, 30 de junio de 2010". Lexivox. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Bolivia: Ley del Régimen Electoral, 30 de junio de 2010". Lexivox. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  3. ^ Barragán R., Rossana (2005). "Ciudadanía y elecciones, convenciones y debates". Regiones y poder constituyente en Bolivia: Una historia de pactos y disputas. Cuaderno de futuro. PNUD. pp. 287–294.
  4. ^ a b Cordero Carraffa, Carlos Hugo (February 2007). Historia Electoral de Bolivia: 1952-2007 (PDF). Cuadernos de trabajo. Corte Nacional Electoral. p. 27.
  5. ^ Córdova, Eduardo (2009). "Cochabamba es el centro es la ausencia: Impulsos estatales y sociales de la descentralización en Cochabamba (1994–2008)". Decursos: Revista de Ciencias Sociales. XI (20): 61–95 [68].
  6. ^ "Referendo para Aprobación de Estatutos Autonómicos y Cartas Orgánicas 2015". Tribunal Supremo Electoral. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14.
  7. ^ "Convocan a comicios electorales en 3 municipios". Página Siete. 2011-07-22. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  8. ^ "Condenan con 25 años de prisión al Alcalde suspendido de Punata". La Razón. 2011-08-08. Retrieved 2011-08-08.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "En Quillacollo y Pazña habrán nuevas elecciones para alcalde Archived 2011-09-11 at the Wayback Machine," Bolivianpress.com, 16 June 2011.
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