GUATEMALA

ELECTORAL SYSTEM
 
Chamber:
  Congreso de la República
 
Electoral Law:
  27 December 1985
 
 
Constituencies:
  - 22 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the country's departments
- 1 multi-member (31 seats) national constituency
 
Voting System:
  Mixed system, with closed party lists:
- majority vote for 127 departmental seats
- proportional representation (d'Hondt method) from a national list for 31 seats
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by substitutes elected at the same time as titular members.
Voting is compulsory with certain exceptions; abstention is punishable by a fine.
 
Voter requirements:
  - age: 18 years
- Guatemalan citizenship
- full possession of civil and political rights
- disqualifications: membership of the armed and police forces, imprisonment
 
Eligibility:
  Qualified electors
- literacy
- ineligibility: close relatives of the President and Vice-President of the Republic, conviction for crime
 
Incompatibilities:
  - civil servants
- holders of certain public functions
- members of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal or Audit Office
- government contractors
 
Candidacy requirements:
  - nomination by a legally registered party; in order to secure their legal status, nominating parties must obtain at least 4% of the popular vote


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