Elections in Madagascar

Madagascar uses different electoral procedures for national and territorial offices. The President is elected by direct universal suffrage for five years and may serve one additional term. A candidate needs an absolute majority of valid votes in the first round; if no candidate reaches it, the two leading candidates compete in a second round held no later than 30 days after the proclamation by the High Constitutional Court, known as the HCC. The National Assembly is elected directly for five years in single-member constituencies by the candidate with the highest number of votes in one round. A tied result goes to the older candidate. Candidates for the National Assembly must be at least 21, Malagasy, resident in Madagascar, registered to vote and in possession of their civil and political rights. They also submit tax and asset declarations. The Senate has 18 members: 12 elected indirectly and 6 appointed by the President. The elected members are chosen by a college of mayors, communal or municipal councillors and regional or provincial representatives. Provincial constituencies use one-round proportional list voting with the highest-average method. Communes elect councillors directly through one-round proportional list voting. The mayor is the lead candidate of the list with the most votes, and seats are allocated by quotient and largest remainder. Regions and provinces use indirect proportional list elections with the same allocation method. Territorial mandates last five years. The independent National Electoral Commission, CENI, organizes and supervises elections, maintains electoral information, manages logistics and candidacies, and publishes provisional results. Local registration work involves the Fokontany, the basic local administrative area, together with district-level electoral structures. The electoral roll, called RALE, is revised annually from 1 December to 15 May. Requests for registration, additions or deletions are normally submitted through the Fokontany from 1 December to 15 February. The provisional list is published by 28 February. A person can challenge an entry within 20 days, while an omission complaint must be filed within 10 days. After a rejection, an appeal to the Tribunal de première instance, or TPI, is available within 15 days; the TPI should decide within 10 days. The final roll is set by 15 May and remains authoritative until 15 May of the following year. A voter may be registered in only one Fokontany. The 2026 total reform of the electoral register, established by Decree 2026-942, began officially in Analamanga on 28 July 2026. CENI has described five access routes: door-to-door registration, registration through the Fokontany, Ambohimpihaonana registration points, an online application and registration connected with the first issuance of a national identity card. The national completion date and final figures were not established in the available CENI material, so the current local instructions should be checked. At a polling station, the voter proves identity with a CNI, or, if accepted and the voter is already on the roll, a valid passport or driving licence. The voter receives a single ballot paper with two signatures selected by lot, marks it with an X or fingerprint, places it personally in the ballot box and signs or gives a fingerprint on the attendance list. An indelible mark is placed on the thumb. A voter with a disability may receive assistance from a person of their own choice. Voting is personal and secret; proxy voting and postal voting are not provided for in the researched rules. Polling stations generally operate from 06:00 to 17:00. Candidates, delegates and accredited observers may observe proceedings and record protests for the official minutes. Voters present when the polling station closes may still be admitted to vote. Counting begins publicly at the polling station immediately after voting. Members of the polling station read ballots aloud and record the figures on counting sheets and the official minutes. Blank and invalid ballots do not count as valid votes. CENI publishes provisional results, while the competent court gives the final result. The HCC handles final results and disputes for presidential, National Assembly and Senate elections. The Tribunal administratif handles territorial election disputes. The Conseil d'Etat hears cassation proceedings and challenges concerning CENI decisions. Complaints must be submitted in writing with supporting evidence; registration and stamp fees are not charged for these election complaints. A presidential election complaint must normally be filed within two days after provisional results are published. A voter can challenge the conduct of the vote only when registered and having actually participated in the relevant election. Candidates may have to pay a contribution for ballot printing, with the amount depending on the election type and the applicable decree; presidential candidates may obtain reimbursement from the threshold of 10 percent in the first round. The election call is generally issued at least 90 days before voting. Presidential campaigns last 30 days, or 7 days for the second round, and end 24 hours before voting. The precise deadlines, contributions and local arrangements depend on the current electoral decree and CENI notices. After final proclamation, the result leads to installation of the elected mandate. The Prime Minister and the government are not elected directly by voters.