At stake in this election:   

• 30 seats in Uruguay’s Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Jose “Pepe” MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010)*
• Head of Government: President Jose “Pepe MUJICA Cordano (since 1 March 2010) **
• Assembly: Uruguay has a bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) consisting of the Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) with 30 seats and the Chamber of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes) with 99 seats.

* The electoral system is two-round.

** The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by absolute majority vote to serve a 5-year term.*
• In the Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores), 30 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms and 1 member Vice President) is ex officio.** In the Chamber of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes) 99 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms.***

*The President may not serve consecutive terms

** There is one nationwide district. One party may field multiple lists. Under the double simultaneous vote (DSV), the voter must vote for one of the lists fielded by the same party she has chosen in a Presidential contest. The Vice President is ex officio presiding officer of the Senate.

*** There are 19 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the country's departments. The minimum magnitude is two. One party may field multiple lists. Under the double simultaneous vote (DSV), the voter must vote for one of the lists fielded by the same party she has chosen in a Presidential contest.

Election Note:

• On Sunday 26 October 2014, Uruguay will hold elections for both chambers in the bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General): The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) and the Chamber of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes).

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Colorado Party / Partido Colorado (PC)
  • Leader: Max SAPOLINKSKI
  • Seats won in last election: 5 in the Chamber of Senators; 17 in the Chamber of Representatives
• Party: Broad Front / Frente Amplio (FA)
  • Leader: Monica XAVIER
  • Seats won in last election: 16 in the Chamber of Senators; 50 in the Chamber of Representatives
• Party: National Party / Partido Nacional *
  • Leader: Luis ALBERTO-HEBER
  • Seats won in last election: 9 in the Chamber of Senators; 30 in Chamber of Representatives
• Party: Independent Party / Partido Independiente
  • Leader: Pablo MIERES
  • Seats won in last election: 0 in Chamber of Senators; 2 in the Chamber of Representatives

* The National Party is also known as the “White Party / Partido Blanco”

Last election:

• The last election to the Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and the Chamber of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes) in Uruguay was held on 25 October 2009.[i] Turnout was 89.91 percent and 2,304,686 of 2,563,250 people casted ballots.[ii] The now ruling party, Broad Front, won the most seats in both chambers: 16 seats in the Chamber of Senators and 50 in the Chamber of Representatives. The right-wing National Party won 9 seats in the Chamber of Senators and 30 in the chamber of Representatives. Results can be found here.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 3,332,972 (July 2014 est)[iii]
• Registered Voters: 2,563,250 (2009)[iv]

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 1,723,233 (July 2014 est)[i]
• Is Uruguay a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (since 30 March 1981)[ii]
• Has Uruguay ratified CEDAW: Yes (9 October 1981)[iii]
• Gender Quota:  Yes: “Legislated Candidate Quotas” The Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) and the Chamber of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes). Also, a “Voluntary Political Party Quota” for the Socialist Party of Uruguay (PS).[iv]
• Female Candidates in this election: N/A
• Number of Female Legislators: 14 (14%) of 99 seats in the Chamber of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes (2009) and 4 (13%) of 31 seats in Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores)  (2009)[v]
• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 50[vi]
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Ranking: Not Ranked (latest rankings are from 2012)[vii]