Elections in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste holds national presidential and parliamentary elections. Municipal and Suco elections are separate local procedures rather than part of the national electoral system. The President serves five years and is elected in one national constituency. A candidate wins with more than half of valid votes, excluding blank votes. If no candidate reaches that level, the two leading candidates compete in a second round on the 30th day. A President may serve no more than two terms. A presidential candidate must be a Timorese citizen by origin, at least 35 years old, fully legally capable and supported by at least 5,000 voters from all districts, with at least 100 supporters from each district. The Parlamento Nacional is unicameral and currently has 65 seats, within the constitutional range of 52 to 65. Members serve five years and are elected from one national constituency through closed lists submitted by registered parties or coalitions. Voters cast one list vote, and seats are distributed proportionally using the d’Hondt method. A list must receive at least 4% of valid votes, excluding blank votes. Each list contains 65 ordinary candidates and at least 25 substitute candidates. Under Law 7/2026, a coalition list forms one joint parliamentary group for the entire legislative term; the Tribunal Superior de Justiça, also called the STJ, reviews the legality of the coalition, while any CNE consultation is non-binding and may take up to three days. The Comissão Nacional de Eleições, or CNE, is an independent and organisationally autonomous body that oversees voter registration, voting, equal treatment, campaign conduct, complaints and provisional national results. The Secretariado Técnico da Administração Eleitoral, or STAE, manages the voter register, logistics and election implementation under government supervision. The Ministério da Administração Estatal, or MAE, provides ministerial support. The Tribunal de Recurso, also known as the STJ, validates and proclaims the final results. Timorese citizens aged 17 or older have the right and civic duty to vote. Electoral registration is compulsory, official, universal and limited to one registration per voter. The voter must check the recorded information and request corrections when necessary. The process uses a cartão de eleitor, or voter card, and assigns the voter to a polling centre, normally according to the relevant Suco. No voter fee is evidenced in the available national information. Employers must provide sufficient release from work to allow voting. Voters living abroad need prior consular registration and vote in diplomatic or consular centres when the required conditions exist. Overseas voting normally follows the registered geographic unit. A centre may be established for a registered unit with at least 50 voters when feasible. In 2026, about 974,000 voters were registered, while biometric information had been updated for approximately 38% to 39%. STAE has set a target of 85% to 90% biometric updating by early 2027, but mobile registration in remote sucos remains logistically difficult. A diaspora registration plan for the 2027 presidential election was still being prepared at the research date. A presidential election decree is issued at least 60 days before the election. Parliamentary campaigns last 30 days and end two days before polling day. CNE and STAE provide voter information and civic education, with radio especially relevant in rural areas. CNE rules require equal opportunities, public neutrality and transparent campaign financing. RTTL provided free broadcasting time for candidates under arrangements reported in 2022. Voting takes place in person and in secret, with one vote per voter. Regular polling hours are 07:00 to 15:00 local time, but voters already waiting at 15:00 may still vote. Mobile voting can serve eligible patients in hospitals and prisoners who hold a current voter card. Blind voters and voters with special needs may receive assistance. Military personnel, security staff, public officials and election workers use the nearest polling centre. Electoral arrangements provide for at least one centre in each Suco. Counting starts immediately after a polling station closes. The result record is displayed publicly, and a copy goes to party or candidate agents. Municipal results, the Oecusse result and overseas results are combined in a national tabulation. CNE submits the result to the Tribunal. Complaints to CNE generally have a 72-hour limit, appeals to the STJ have a 48-hour limit, and the court has up to 72 hours for validation and final proclamation. National and international observers, party agents and civil-society monitors may observe the process. The 2023 parliamentary election had 890,145 registered voters and 705,693 voters, producing a turnout of 79.28%. CNRT won 31 seats, FRETILIN 19, PD 6, KHUNTO 5 and PLP 4. Because CNRT did not reach 33 seats alone, government formation required a majority coalition or support arrangement. After a parliamentary election, the President appoints the Prime Minister from the majority party or coalition. The 2022 presidential election was decided in the second round, where José Ramos-Horta received 62.1%; the Tribunal de Recurso completed the final validation. Current reform concerns include biometric coverage, access for overseas and remote voters, publication of voter lists, campaign-finance oversight and the role of CNE in consultations on electoral rules. EU reporting in 2025 described reform progress as limited and highlighted transparency, inclusion and a level playing field as priorities.