Comprehensive election calendar

Updated July 2008

country timeline presidential parliamentary/ legislative local govt recent
referenda
algeria Last election 8 Apr 2004 People's National Assembly & Council of the Nation: 17 May 2007 29 Nov 2007 17 Sep 1999
Voters endorse presidential peace plan to end 7 yrs of civil violence
Next election 2009 May 2012 Oct/Nov 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
angola Last election 1992 29-30 Sep 1992 No local government elections have been held, nor are any planned as yet  
Next election 2009 5 Sep 2008
Term of office 5 yrs 4 yrs
benin Last election 1st round: 5 Mar 2006
2nd round: 19 Mar 2006
NA: 31 Mar 2007 20 Apr 2008  
Next election 2011 NA: 2011 2014
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 4 yrs 6 yrs
botswana Last election Nov 2004
by Parliament
30 Oct 2004 30 Oct 2004 4 Oct 1997
Constitutional amendments to establish an Independent Electoral Commission approved
Next election 2009 2009 2009
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
burkina faso Last election 13 Nov 2005 6 May 2007 23 April 2006  
Next election Nov 2010 2012 2011
Term of office Reduced from 7 to 5 yrs in 2000; effective 2005 5 yrs 5 yrs
burundi Last election 19 Aug 2005
by Parliament
NA 4 Jul 2005
SEN 29 Jul 2005
3 Jun 2005 28 Feb 2005
New Constitution approved
Next election Aug 2010 Jul 2010 Jun 2010
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
cameroon Last election 11 Oct 2004 22 Jul 2007 22 Jul 2007  
Next election 2011 2012 2012
Term of office 7 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
cape verde Last election 12 Feb 2006 22 Jan 2006 18 May 2008  
Next election 2011 Jan 2010 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 4 yrs
central african republic Last election First Round 13 Mar 2005
Second Round 8 May 2005
First Round 13 Mar 2005
Second Round 8 May 2005
25 Dec 2004
New Constitution approved
Next election Mar 2010 Mar 2010
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
chad Last election NA: 3 May 2006 21 Apr 2002  
Next election 2011 NA: 2009, postponed from 2006
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 4 yrs
comoros Last election 1st round: 16 Apr 2006
2nd round: 14 May 2006
18 & 25 Apr 2004 10 Jun 2007 IP
14 & 21 Mar 2004 IL
23 Dec 2001
Constitution grants autonomy 3 islands; Union presidency rotates between presidencies of islands every 4 yrs
Next election 2010 Apr 2009 13 May 2008 Anjouan IP
2011 IP
Mar 2009 IL
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs IP 4 yrs
IL 5 yrs
côte d'ivoire Last election 22 Oct 2000 10 Dec 2000 24-25 Mar 2001 23 Jul 2000
Constitution approved
Next election 30 Nov 2008 30 Nov 2008 postponed indefinitely
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
democratic republic of congo Last election First round 30 Jun 2006
Second round 29 Sep 2006
30 Jun 2006
Senate: 19 Jan 2007
Provincial & Local 29 Sep 2006 18 Dec 2005
New Constitution approved
Next election 2011 2011/2 2011
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
djibouti Last election 8 Apr 2005 NA: 8 Feb 2008 RA & Communal: 10 & 31 Mar 2006  
Next election Apr 2011 NA: 2013 RA & Communal: 2011
Term of office 6 yrs NA: 5 yrs RA & Communal: 5 yrs
egypt Last election Sep 2005 PA: 7 Nov - 7 Dec 2005
SC: 11 Jun 2007
April 1997  
Next election 2011 PA: Nov 2010
SC: 2010
Postponed from Apr 2006 until 8 Apr 2008
Term of office 6 yrs PA: 5 yrs
SC: 6 yrs; half replaced every three year.
4 yrs
equatorial guinea Last election 15 Dec 2002 House of People's Representatives: 25 Apr 2004 25 Apr 2004  
Next election 2009 2009 2009
Term of office 7 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
eritrea Last election 1993
interim president
May 1997
Transitional NA formed
May 2003 23-25 Apr 1993
Independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea approved
Next election indefinitely postponed from 2001
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
ethiopia Last election 9 Oct 2007
by House of People's Representatives
13 & 19 Apr 2008 House of the Federation
15 May 2005 House of People's Representatives
13 & 19 Apr 2008 Local government
15 May & 21 Aug 2005 RSCs
 
Next election 2013
by House of People's Representatives
2010 House of People's Representatives
2013 House of the Federation
May 2010 SCs
Local government 2013
Term of office 6 yrs 5 yrs (both Houses) SCs & Local government: 5 yrs
gabon Last election 27 Nov 2005 NA 17 December 2006
SEN 26 Jan & 9 Feb 2003
No data  
Next election 2012 NA 2011
SEN Jan 2009
Term of office 7 yrs NA 5 yrs
SEN 6 yrs
the gambia Last election 24 September 2006 25 Jan 2007 25 Apr 2002  
Next election 2011 2012 2008
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 4 yrs
ghana Last election 7 Dec 2004 7 Dec 2004 2006  
Next election 7 Dec 2008 7 Dec 2008 2010
Term of office 4 yrs 4 yrs 4 yrs
guinea Last election 21 Dec 2003 30 Jun 2002 Dec 2005 11 Nov 2001
Constitutional amendment to remove presidential term of office limits and increase term to 7 yrs approved
Next election 2010 Dec 2008 (postponed from 2007) 2010
Term of office 7 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
guinea-bissau Last election 1st round: 19 Jun 2005
2nd round: 24 Jul 2005
28 & 30 Mar 2004 There are no local governments  
Next election Brought forward from 2010 to 2009 16 Nov 2008
Term of office 5 yrs 4 yrs
kenya Last election 27 Dec 2007 NA: 27 Dec 2007 27 Dec 2007 21 Nov 2005
New constitution rejected by voters
Next election 2012 NA: 2012 2012
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
lesotho Last Election Monarchy: no presidential election 17 Feb 2007 30 Apr 2005  
Next election 2012 2010
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
liberia Last election 11 Oct & 8 Nov 2005 HR & SEN 11 Oct 2005  
Next election Oct 2011 HR Oct 2011
SEN Senior 2014, Junior 2011
30 Nov 2008
Term of office 6 yrs HR 6 yrs
SEN Senior 9 yrs, Junior 6 yrs
 
libya Last election De facto chief of the state is Revolutionary Leader Col Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi, Leader of the Revolution, since 1969. One-party state.
The legislature is the General People's Congress which is indirectly elected for 3 yrs. The voters elect representatives for the basic people's congresses, which elect representatives to municipal people's congresses, which in turn elect delegates to the General People's Congress.
The executive, the General People's Committee is elected by the General People's Congress. The nominal head of state is the chairperson of the General People's Congress.
 
next election
term of office
madagascar Last election 3 December 2006 NA: 23 Sep 2007
Senate: 20 Apr 2008
Local government: 16 Mar 2008 Constitutional referendum 4 Apr 2007.
Next election 2011 NA: 2012
Senate: 2013
Local government: 2013
Term of office 5 yrs NA 5 yrs
Senate: 5 yrs
5 yrs
malawi Last election 20 May 2004 20 May 2004 21 Nov 2000 14 Jun 1993
Introduction of a multi-party system approved by voters
Next election 2009 2009 Mid-2007, may be postponed to September 2008
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
mali Last election 29 April 2007 NA: 1st round 1 Jul 2007; 2nd round 22 Jul 2007 30 May 2004  
Next election 2012 NA: 2012 May 2009
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
mauritania Last election 11 Mar 2007 (1st round), 25 March 2007 (2nd round) NA 19 Nov 2006 (1st round), 3 Dec 2006 (2nd round)SEN 21 Jan 2007 PRO 19 Nov 2006
Local and regional: 19 Nov 2006
25 Jun 2006
New constitution approved by electorate
Next election 2013 NA 2011
SEN 2010
PRO 2011
Local and regional: 2011
Term of office 6 yrs NA 5 yrs
SEN 6 yrs
5 yrs
mauritius Last election 25 Feb 2002
by NA
3 Jul 2005 2 Oct 2005
Next election 2008 2010 2009
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 4 yrs
morocco Last election Monarchy. PM appointed by monarch after legislative elections AR 7 Sep 2007
AC 8 Sep 2006
7 Sep 2003
Next election AR 2012
AC 2015
2009
Term of office AR 5 yrs
AC 9 yrs
6 yrs
mozambique Last election 1 - 2 Dec 2004 1 - 2 Dec 2004 Local 30 Nov 2003
Next election 2009 2009 Local: 19 Nov 2008
Provincial: 2009
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
namibia Last election 15 - 16 Nov 2004 NA: 15 - 16 Nov 2004
NC: 2004
RC: 15 - 16 Nov 2004
Local: 14 May 2004
Next election 2009 NA: 2009
NC: 2010
RC: 2010
Local: 2009
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs
NC: 6 yrs
RC: 6 yrs
Local: 5 yrs
niger Last election 16 Nov & 4 Dec 2004 NA: 16 Nov 2004 24 Jul 2004 20 Jul 1999
New constitution approved
Next election 2009 NA: 2009 2009
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
nigeria Last election 21 Apr 2007 NA: 21 Apr 2007 State Assemblies and governors 14 Apr 2007
Local: 27 Mar 2004
Next election 2011 NA: 2011 State Assemblies and governors 2011
Local 2008
Term of office 4 yrs 4 yrs 4 yrs
republic of the congo Last election 10 Mar 2002 SEN Jul 2008
NA 1st round: 24 Jun 2007 & 22 Jul 2007; 2nd round: 5 Aug 2007
29 Jun 2008 20 Jan 2002
New Constitution approved
Next election 2009 NA 2012
SEN 2014
2014
Term of office 7 yrs NA 5 yrs
SEN 6 yrs
6 yrs
rwanda Last election 25 Aug 2003 CD 29 Sep 2003
Senate 2003 (indirect)
20 Feb 2006 26 May 2003
New constitution approved
Next election 2010 CD 15 Sep 2008
Senate 2011 (indirect)
Local government 2011
Term of office 7 yrs 5 yrs
são tomé and príncipe Last election 30 Jul 2006 26 Mar 2006 27 Aug 2006
Next election Jul 2011 Mar 2010 2011
Term of office 5 yrs 4 yrs 5 yrs
senegal Last election 25 Feb 2007 NA: 3 Jun 2007
Senate: 19 Aug 2007(indirect)
Regional & Local: 18 May 2008 7 Jan 2001
Constitutional amendments to abolish Senate and reduce presidential term to 5 yrs for future presidents approved
Next election 2012 NA & Senate: 2012 Regional & Local: 2013
Term of office 5 yrs NA & Senate: 5 yrs Regional & Local: 5 yrs
seychelles Last election 29-31 July 2006 10–12 May 2007 Local authorities are appointed by the government 15 - 18 June 1993
New Constitution approved
Next election 2011 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
sierra leone Last election 1st round: 11 Aug 2007
2nd round: 8 Sept 2007
11 Aug 2007 5 Jul 2008
Next election 2012 2012 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 4 yrs
somalia Last election 14 - 17 Jun 2004 & 10 Oct 2004
by Transitional Federal Government
Clan-based political structure, not multi-party democracy. Transitional govt has mandate to establish a Constitution but this has not occurred as yet. Somaliland (below) is a small breakaway republic in the northwest.  
Next election
Term of office
somaliland
(autonomous region)
Last election 14 Apr 2003 29 Sep 2005 15 Dec 2002  
Next election 15 Mar 2009 Sep 2010 15 Dec 2008
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
south africa Last Election 24 Apr 2004
by NA
NA: 14-15 Apr 2004 PA: 14-15 Apr 2004
Local: 1 Mar 2006
17 Mar 1992
Whites approve the continuation of the white government's negotiations for a new majority government constitution
Next election 2009 NA: 2009 PA: 2009
Local: 2011
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs PA & Local: 5 yrs
southern sudan
(autonomous region)
Last election Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable 2011: Referendum due on whether southern autonomous region is remain part of Sudan or to succeed
Next election 2009 SSA: 2009 2009
Term of office 5 yrs SSA: 5 yrs 5 yrs
sudan Last election Dec 2000
Boycotted by opposition. Elections unable to be held in several constituencies due to civil war. Nation in conflict under military government. Recent peace accords offer hope of conflict resolution.
2011: Referendum due on whether southern autonomous region is remain part of Sudan or to succeed
Next election 2009 CS & NA 2009 State Legislatures, State Governors, local government 2009
Term of office 5 yrs NA 5 yrs
CS 6 yrs
5 yrs
swaziland Last election Monarchy: no presidential election. 18 Oct 2003    
Next election Oct or Nov 2008  
Term of Office 5 yrs 3 yrs
togo Last election 24 April 2005 14 Oct 2007    
Next election 2010 2012
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs
united republic of tanzania Last Election 14 Dec 2005 14 Dec 2005 14 Dec 2005  
Next election Oct 2010 Oct 2010 Oct 2010
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
tunisia Last election 24 Oct 2004 Chamber of Deputies: 24 Oct 2004
Chamber of Councillors: 2005
8 May 2005  
Next election 2009 Chamber of Deputies: 2009
Chamber of Councillors: 2011
2010
Term of office 5 yrs Chamber of Deputies: 5 yrs
Chamber of Councillors: 6 yrs
5 yrs
uganda Last election 23 Feb 2006 NA: 23 Feb 2006 28 Feb - 9 Mar 2006
Next election 2011 NA: 2011 2010
Term of office 5 yrs NA: 5 yrs 4 yrs
zambia Last Election 28 Sep 2006 28 Sep 2006 28 Sep 2006 17 Jun 1969
Constitutional amendment to give Parliament more power approved
Next election 2011 2011 2011
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
zanzibar
(autonomous region)
Last Election 30 Oct 2005 30 Oct 2005 14 Dec 2005  
Next election Oct 2010 Oct 2010 Oct 2010
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 5 yrs
zimbabwe Last election 29 March 2008 1st round
27 Jun 2008 2nd round
HA, Sen 29 Mar 2008 Local government 29 Mar 2008 12 - 13 Feb 2000
New constitution to increase presidential power rejected by voters
Next election 2013 2013 2013
Term of office 5 yrs 5 yrs 4 yrs
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