Marshall Islands

Parliament

Political system: Presidential system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

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): 18 Nov 2019
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 30 Sep 2019
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake: 33
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election: 2

Notes: Candidates are officially non-partisan and their party affiliation may change after the elections.
The number of candidates is not available from authoritative sources.: Yes
The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.: Yes

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 47,133
Voters: 17,834
Voter turnout: 37.8%

Results

About the election: Although candidates are officially non-partisan, many candidates joined either the Armij Mokta ("People First", led by President Hilda C. Heine) or the Aelon Kein Ad ("Our Island" – AKA, led by former President Christopher Loeak). Before the first session of the newly elected 33-member Parliament, held on 6 January 2020, the AKA gathered 20 members while Armij Mokta held 12 or 13 members. The newly elected Parliament re-elected Mr. Kenneth Kedi as its Speaker. Mr. David Kabua – son of the founding President Amata Kabua – was elected the new President of the Republic, defeating Ms. Heine.

The 2019 elections were the first to be held after Parliament had adopted Public Law 2016-028 in 2016, which rescinded the postal ballots that had been in place for four decades. Although the Supreme Court ruled the Public Law unconstitutional in October 2019 (see note), postal ballots were not used for the 2019 elections due to lack of time. The 2019 recorded a low turnout: only 38 per cent of the 47,000 registered voters turned out, down from 46 per cent recorded in 2015.

Note:

The Court ruled the law unconstitutional because it eliminated postal absentee ballot rights without offering an alternative option. An estimated 30,000 Marshallese live in the United States of America.
Number of parties winning seats: 2
Percentage of parties winning seats: 100.0%
Alternation of power after elections: Yes
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Aelon Kein Ad ("Our Island" – AKA)

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 31
Number of women elected: 2
Percentage of women elected: 6.1%
Women Directly Elected: 2
Sources: Parliament (08.01.2020, 26.01.2020, 28.01.2020)

Radio New Zealand

pncguam.com

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 31
Total number of women after the election: 2
Percentage of women after the election: 6.1%
First-term parliamentarians: No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: No information available
Date of the first session: 06 Jan 2020

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Kenneth Kedi (Male)
Date of birth: 1971
Date of election: 06 Jan 2019