Republic of Nicaragua: President, 6 November 2016

At stake in this election:

• The office of the President of the Nicaragua

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
• Head of Government: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
• Assembly: Nicaragua has a unicameral Asamblea Nacional (National Assembly) composed of 92 seats with members serving 5-year terms.

Description of electoral system:

• The president is directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term with no term limits. The president and vice-president are elected on the same ballot.  

Last Election:

• The last presidential election was held on 6 November 2011. Incumbent Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra was reelected with 62.5% of the vote.

Main candidates in the election:

• Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra
  • Party: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)/Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional
• Maximino RODRÍGUEZ
  • Party: Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC)/Partido Liberal Constitucionalista
• Jose del Carmen ALVARADO RUIZ
  • Party: Independent Liberal Party (PLI)/Partido Liberal Independiente
• Erick Antonio CABEZAS
  • Party: Conservative Party/Partido Conservador
• Saturnino CERRATO
  • Party: Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance(ALN)/Alianza Liberal Nicaragüense
• Carlos CANALES
  • Party: Alliance for the Republic (APRE)/Alianza por la República

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 5,966,798 (July 2016 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 3,303,831 (2011)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 3,054,550 (July 2016 est.)

·         Is Nicaragua a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Nicaragua ratified CEDAW: Yes (27 October 1981)

·         Gender Quota: Yes[1]

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 37 (40.22%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 125 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Nicaragua a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Nicaragua ratified CRPD: Yes (7 December 2007)

·         Population with a disability: 886,182 (est.)