At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Vanuatu

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE *
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI
• Assembly: Vanuatu has a unicameral Parliament with 52 seats.

* The electoral college consists of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by an electoral college to serve a 5-year term.
• In the Parliament 52 members are elected by single non-transferable vote to serve 4-year terms.***

*** There are 17 multi-member constituencies.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Iolu ABIL
  • Independent(s): N/A
• Vincent BOULEKONE
  • Independent(s): N/A
• Kalkot MATASKELEKELE
  • Party: N/A
• Kalo NIAL
  • Independent(s): N/A
• Yvette SAM
  • Independent(s): N/A

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 218,519 (July 2009 est,)
• Registered Voters: 58 ( Number of voters in electoral college.)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 110,735 (2009)

·         Is Vanuatu a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Vanuatu ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (8 September 1995)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 2 (following the 2008 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 134 (2014)

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

Disability Data:

·         Is Vanuatu a signatory to CRPD: Yes (17 May 2007)

·         Has Vanuatu ratified CRPD: Yes (23 October 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 32,777 (est.)