Restrictto Candidacy:
Candidate for the presidential election must be a Burkina Faso national and between 35 and 75 years old on the date of the filing of their candidacy. In addition, every candidate in the presidential election must submit a certificate of sponsorship by at least 50 elected representatives (MPs or councilors). Candidates for the presidential election must pay a deposit of 10 000 0000 CFA (approximately 20,000 US dollars). The deposit is refunded for any candidate who receives at least 5% of the vote. These provisions were included in the law to discourage so-called “frivolous candidacies” in Burkina Faso. Experience showed that some individuals ran for the presidential elections only to benefit from campaign funding, without having a real program or even a credible organization capable of conducting a meaningful electoral campaign.
Electoral System & Organisation
Elect System Main Election:
Majority
Main Election Type:
Presidential
Main Election Cycle:
5
Numb Round Main Election:
Two
Referenda_Law:
Constitution as amended in 2015, art. 49, 147, 164, 169
Referenda_Binding:
Always Binding
Voting Machine:
None
Vote IDRequired:
ID check compulsory
Polling Card:
Polling card sent but not compulsory
National Holiday Elect Day:
Never
Districting Source:
EMB
Districting Flexibility:
existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Polling Station
Average Voterby Polling Station:
310
Maximum Ratio:
800
Normal Opening Time Poll Station:
600
Normal Closing Time Poll Station:
18:00
Polling Station Numbers:
17800
Listof Polling Station Buildings:
Electoral Law: NOT in private buildings, without a special CEC authorization; in buildings used by the public administration, except for educational, cultural and healthcare institutions; or in buildings used or owned, partially or totally, by a political
Accessibility Requirement:
Party to UNCRPD
Personnel Number Requirement:
4
Nature Station Personnel:
General Public chosen
Ballot Box Transparency:
Transparent
Vote Receipt:
No receipt
Count Locallyor Centrally:
locally
Manualor Automatic Count:
manual
Nature Counting Personnel:
This initial counting is done by the members of the polling station, assisted by two tellers appointed a few hours before the polls close by the president of the polling station. The delegates of each political party running for office have the right to attend the counting. The Electoral commission (CNOE) is itself appointed a few months before the planned date of an impending election. On appointment, it is the responsibility of the CNOE to make all arrangements for the elections, including the appointment and training of all election (and counting) officials. The election officials double as counting officials. All officials are appointed for a particular election or registration, even though most of them are always reappointed. Most of the officials are teachers.
Ballot Paper
Ballot Type:
Paper
Singleor Multi Paper Ballot:
Single
Max Numberof Votesper Ballot:
1
Ballot Paper Type Description:
Single Ballot paper with pictures of candidates
Ballot Paper Type Photo Upload:
YES
Ballot Photos:
Freely Allowed
Ballot Logos:
Freely Allowed
Orderof Candidatesor Parties:
random
Remote Voting
Temporal Remote Voting:
No
Geographical Remote Voting:
No
Personal Remote Voting:
No
Mobile Polling Stations:
No
Special Needs
Provision First Time Voters:
Contest between first time voters in presidential elections organised by ECES (http://www.eces.eu/template/Resume%20PacteBF.EN.pdf)
Provision Illiterate Voters:
No, AND there are also a number of limitations to the single ballot. Its use can prove difficult for an illiterate or poorly educated voter. In an effort to avoid some of the transparency measures put in place by the CENI, some political parties were able to make parallel ballots. They organized a system of early voting which targeted poor and illiterate voters the day before elections and on the day of elections the voter arrived at the the polls already equipped with a single ballot that had been filled out with their ‘vote’ in advance.
Special Provision Female Voters:
the AUEOM (AFRICAN UNION ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION 2015)noted that priority was given to the elderly, physically challenged and to pregnant women in 66.9% of polling stations visited
Provision Blind Voters:
According to Article 91 of the electoral code, any voters with disabilities preventing them from voting are authorized to receive assistance from a voter of their choice or from a member of the polling station. Measures are in place to integrate sign language into televised communications by the National Independent Electoral Commission.
Provision Deaf Voters:
According to Article 91 of the electoral code, any voters with disabilities preventing them from voting are authorized to receive assistance from a voter of their choice or from a member of the polling station. Measures are in place to integrate sign language into televised communications by the National Independent Electoral Commission.
Provision Motor Handicap Voters:
According to Article 91 of the electoral code, any voters with disabilities preventing them from voting are authorized to receive assistance from a voter of their choice or from a member of the polling station. Measures are in place to integrate sign language into televised communications by the National Independent Electoral Commission.
Targeted Initiatives
Transparency Initiative:
The delegates of each political party running for office have the right to attend the counting. Additionally, the electoral law guarantees the public character of the counting, which allows for any citizen to attend. Despite the public nature of the counting, only members of the polling station are qualified to conduct the operation.