At stake in this Referendum:

• Adoption of several amendments to the Malagasy constitution

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Marc RAVALOMANANA
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Charles RABEMANANJARA
• Assembly: Madagascar has a bicameral Legislature consisting of the Senate (Senat) with 90 seats and the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 160 seats.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Adoption of several amendments to the Malagasy constitution* Do you accept these constitutional changes for rapid and sustainable rural development to improve the lives of the Malagasy?
  Pour le dÃveloppement rapide et durable des régions et pour l'amélioration des conditions de vie des Malgaches, acceptez-vous ce projet de révision de la Constitution?

* Main provisions include: - Introduction of emergency powers for the president and increase in his/her judicial powers. - Introduction of English as third official language. At present, French and Malagasy are the official languages in Madagascar. - Redefinition of the country's administrative divisions by replacing the six autonomous provinces, now the highest level of subdivision, with the 22 regions within the provinces.

Electoral Requirements:

• A majority of votes cast is required in order for the referendum to pass.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 19,371,031 (2007)
• Registered Voters: 7,380,926 (April 2007)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 9,724,935 (2007)

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

·         Has Madagascar ratified CEDAW: Yes (17 March 1989)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 6 (following the 2002 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 154 (2014)

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

Disability Data:

·         Is Madagascar a signatory to CRPD: Yes (25 September 2007)

·         Has Madagascar ratified CRPD: Yes (12 June 2015)

·         Population with a disability: 2,905,654 (est.)