At stake in this election:

• 40 seats in the Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa
• Head of Government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa
• Assembly: Bahrain has a bicameral National Assembly (al-Jamiyh al-Watani) consisting of the Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura) with 40 seats and the Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab) with 40 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The King is hereditary N/A.
• Prime Minister is appointed by the monarch.
• In the Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura) 40 members are appointed by the monarch. In the Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab) 40 members are elected by absolute majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.**

** A second, runoff round is held if no candidate receives and absolute majority in the first round.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: al-Wefaq National Islamic Society / Jam'iyat al-Wifaq al-Watany al-Islamiyah جمعية الوفاق الوطني الإسلامية‎
  • Leader: Ali ALI SALMAN
  • Seats won in last Council of Representatives election: 17
• Party: Al Menbar National Islamic Society / جمعية المنبر الوطني الإسلامي
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last Council of Representatives election: 7
• Party: Al Asalah Islamic Society / جمعية الأصالة الإسلامية Jam'iyat al-Asalah el-Islamie'a ‎
  • Leader: Ghanim AL BUANEEN
  • Seats won in last Council of Representatives election: 8
• Independent(s): Independents
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last Council of Representatives election: 3

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 1,261,319 (2010)
• Registered Voters: 318,000 (October 2010 Voter registry not published. Number is an estimate.)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 474,282 (2010)

·         Is Bahrain a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Bahrain ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (18 June 2002)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 1 (following 2010 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 45 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Bahrain a signatory to CRPD: Yes (25 June 2007)

·         Has Bahrain ratified CRPD: Yes (22 September 2011)

·         Population with a disability: 189,197 (est.)