Palau

House of DelegatesSenate

House of Delegates

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
03.11.2020
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
05.11.2024
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
16
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
27
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
23
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
4
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
14.81%

There is no party system, or all candidates stood as independents.

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
16,754
Votes Number of people who actually voted
10,204
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
60.9%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
Most incumbents were re-elected to the 16-member House of Delegates, while only 7 were re-elected to the 13-member Senate. One woman was re-elected to the House of Delegates and another woman was elected to the Senate. In the presidential elections, held in parallel with the parliamentary elections, Senator Surangel Whipps Jr. defeated Vice President Raymond Oilouch. Senator Jerrlyn Uduch Sengebau Sr. was elected as Vice President, thereby becoming the second woman in Palau to assume the post.

With no political parties in Palau, there was no nationwide election campaigning. Although Palau had registered only one COVID-19 case before the 2020 elections, the country’s tourism sector – which generates about 80 per cent of the nation’s total GDP and employs over 75 per cent of the workforce – was severely affected by the global pandemic.

On 21 January 2021, Mr. Surangel Whipps Jr. was sworn in as the new President, succeeding his brother-in-law Tommy Remengesau Jr., who was stepping down after serving two four-year terms. The new President promised to revive the country’s tourism-dependent economy and deal with climate change together with large countries by reminding them that “the threat is real”. He also pledged to continue formal recognition of, and close relations with, Taiwan.

There is no data on political parties, for example because there is no party system or candidates stood as independents.

Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Yes
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
15
Number of women elected
1
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
6.25%
Other notes
Note on the expected date of next elections: The first Tuesday of November every four years.

Note on the date of the first session of the new parliament: The third Thursday of January after each general election.
Women Directly Elected
1

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
15
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
1
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
21.01.2021
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Sabino Anastacio (Male)
Date of election
21.01.2021