Legal basis

Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles, June 18, 1993; amended 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2000.
Elections Act, 17 of 1995 as amended.
Political Parties (Registration and Regulation) Act, 1991 as amended 1995, 1996.

Electoral system

Parliamentary Elections: Mixed system. Direct universal adult franchise first-past-post constituency elections combined with proportional representation.
Presidential Elections: President is elected by absolute majority through universal adult franchise.

Election period

Parliamentary and presidential elections every 5 years, but not necessarily concurrently.

Electoral institutions

Electoral Commissioner.

Functions of electoral institutions

To conduct and supervise voter registration, elections and referenda, to delimit constituencies and to review election campaigns.

Independence of electoral institutions

Commissioner appointed by the President from candidates nominated by the Constitutional Appointments Authority. There are no provisions for the removal of the Commissioner from office.

Demarcation

The Electoral Commissioner delimits according to constitutional guidelines. According to the Constitution there may not be less than 19 electoral areas on the island of Mahe, two on Praslin and one for the Inner Islands (25 total). Boundaries are reviewed 3 years before every election.

Voter registration

Continious registration.
A general registration of voters takes place every year. Registration is on voters roll with constituency registration officers who are subject to the control of the Chief Registration officer.

Voter education

Although not tasked by law with voter education the Commissioner's Office has a Voter Education Department.

Nomination of candidates

Parliamentary Elections: Constituency candidate nominations must be endorsed by the number of registered voters published by the Commissioner and must pay a deposit. Proportional representation candidates are nominated political parties on lists.
Presidential Elections: Presidential candidate nominations must be endorsed by the number of registered voters published by the Commissioner and must pay a deposit

Funding of political parties

Parties receive public funding from a fund administered by the Commissioner in proportion to their performance in the previous National Assembly election.
Parties and candidates are not required to disclose the source of funds raised, but must disclose to the Electoral Commissioner amounts received and how funds were expended.

Election campaign

A code of conduct governing the political activity of parties and candidates has been issued by the Commissioner. Campaigning ceases two days before election day.

Communication

The Commissioner is empowered to allocate free time to political parties and candidates on an equal basis in consultation with the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation.

Counting

After the close of the poll the Electoral Officer gives notice of the time the counting is to begin. At that time the Electoral Officer and enumerators, in the presence of candidates or their agents, proceed to count and verify the ballots cast.

Announcement of results

The Electoral Officer transmits the results to the Commissioner and the all the documentation to the Chief Electoral Officer. The Commissioner declares the results and ensures they are published in the Gazette.

Conflict resolution

In the event of a dispute over the results, the Constitutional Court has authority to hear complaints. Decisions may be appealed in the Seychelles Court of Appeal.

Election observation

Observers are accredited by the EMB, and issued with a code of conduct.