Trinidad and Tobago

House of Representatives

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
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)
10 Aug 2020
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
03 Jul 2020
Timing of election
Early elections
Expected date of next elections
31 Aug 2025
Number of seats at stake
41
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
19
Total number of candidates
150
Number of male candidates
105
Number of female candidates
45
Percentage of women candidates
30.0%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
1,134,135
Voters
658,297
Voter turnout
58.0%

Results

About the election

Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s People's National Movement (PNM) retained the majority in the 41-member House of Representatives, taking 3 more seats than the United National Congress (UNC), led by former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. On 28 August, the newly elected House of Representatives re-elected Ms. Bridgid Annisette-George (see note 1) as its Speaker, and the Senate (an appointed chamber renewed at the same time as the House) re-elected Ms. Christine Kangaloo (see note 2) as its President.

The election campaign in 2020 was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, although Trinidad and Tobago recorded a small number of cases. Key electoral issues included COVID-19 related measures and the economy. The PNM promised to continue seeking to diversify the economy by boosting energy services exports.

Note 1:

The Speaker may be designated from outside parliament. Ms. Bridgid Annisette-George, who was not a directly elected member, became a member of the House by virtue of her election as Speaker.

Note 2:

The President of the Senate may be designated from outside parliament and becomes a member of parliament by virtue of holding the office of President. Since Ms. Christine Kangaloo was designated from outside parliament, the Senate comprises a total of 32 members (31 appointed senators and the Senate President).

Number of parties winning seats
2
Percentage of parties winning seats
10.5%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
53.7%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
People’s National Movement (PNM)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
People's National Movement (PNM) 22
United National Congress (UNC) 19
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
31
Number of women elected
10

Notes: The 'Parties or coalitions winning seats' above refers to the 41 directly elected members. The 'Distribution of seats according to sex' refers to all 42 members of the House of Representatives (41 directly elected members and the Speaker). Ms. Bridgid Annisette-George, who was not one of the directly elected members, became a member of the House by virtue of her election as Speaker.

Percentage of women elected
24.4%
Women Directly Elected
10
Women in other categories
1
Other notes on the elections

Note on the timing of election:

According to the Constitution, Parliament is dissolved five years after the date of the first sitting (i.e., by 22 September 2020), and a general election takes place within three months of the dissolution.

Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
31
Total number of women after the election
11
Percentage of women after the election
26.2%
First-term parliamentarians
7
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
16.7%
Date of the first session
28 Aug 2020

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Bridgid Annisette-George (Female)
Date of birth: 1958
Date of election
28 Aug 2020

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No