Mauritius: Delimitation of constituencies

Updated May 2010

Extracted from: Rouikaya Kasenally 2009 "Chapter 8: Mauritius" IN Denis Kadima and Susan Booysen (eds) Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa 1989-2009: 20 Years of Multiparty Democracy, EISA, Johannesburg, 285-286.

The Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) is empowered by the Constitution of Mauritius (Section 39 (2)) to review the boundaries / delimitation of the constituencies and present a report to the National Assembly every 10 years. The first delimitation took place in 1966 and subsequently the EBC has thrice reviewed the boundaries of the constituencies (1976, 1986 and 1999). The next review is due in 2009. The main criterion which is taken into account for the review of the electoral boundaries is the number of inhabitants in each constituency, which should be as close as is reasonably practical to the 'population quota', i.e. the figure obtained by dividing the number of inhabitants of the island of Mauritius (according to the latest official population census) by the number of constituencies, i.e. 20.

Other technical criteria are also taken into account in the delineation of the electoral boundaries, so that the number of inhabitants in a constituency may be greater or less than the population quota. Such criteria include means of communication, geographical and topographical features, density of population, and boundaries of administrative areas. In order to carry out its assignment, the Commission invites written representations from interested parties or stakeholders, organisations or individuals, including women and youth. Furthermore, the Commission operates in close collaboration with the Electoral Commissioner and his electoral staff, who are familiar with the various areas of their respective constituencies. Once the report is ready it is submitted to the National Assembly, which may by resolution approve or reject the recommendations, but may not vary them. If so approved, the resolutions take effect as from the next dissolution of parliament.

Over the years, concern has been expressed over the population size of certain constituencies which are disproportionately larger than others but unfortunately there has not been total consensus on the matter and the necessary changes could not be made. Table 2 [see Registered voters by constituency for 2005 National Assembly election] provides a breakdown of the 21 existing constituencies (Mauritius and Rodrigues) and highlights the level of discrepancies in certain of the constituencies when it comes to the number of registered electors.

Constituencies and registered voters

Registered voters by constituency for 2010 National Assembly election
Registered voters by constituency for 2005 National Assembly election
Registered voters by constituency for 2000 and 1995 National Assembly elections