Summary.
The Code governs voter registration, political parties, candidacies, voting, and electoral justice in Panama. It also sets rules for campaigns, vote counting, public votes, and electoral penalties.
What it covers.
- Voter registration and the organization of political parties.
- Candidacies, campaigns, and campaign financing.
- Voting, vote counting, and public votes.
- Electoral offenses, violations, and proceedings.
Who it applies to.
- Voters and candidates.
- Political parties and independent candidates.
- Public officials, electoral delegates, and electoral bodies.
- Persons and entities subject to electoral rules.
Key points.
- To vote, a voter must appear on the Final Electoral Roll for their polling station, present an identity card, and retain full civil and political rights.Art. 5, Art. 8
- The Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Electoral) prepares electoral rolls and decides whether to recognize political parties; recognized parties can nominate candidates and form alliances.Art. 21, Art. 47, Art. 93
- The state finances electoral expenses of parties and independent candidates. Private contributions, campaign spending, political advertising, and polls are subject to registration, oversight, and publication rules.Art. 189, Art. 205, Art. 221, Art. 255
- The Electoral Tribunal calls elections. Parties and independent candidates submit nominations under the applicable requirements; nominations can be challenged.Art. 283, Art. 304, Art. 345
- Voting is secret and takes place on a single day. Polling stations count votes, while canvassing boards conduct the general count and declare those elected; elections and declarations of results can be challenged through nullity claims.Art. 357, Art. 387, Art. 415
- The Code governs the convocation of a parallel constituent assembly and the popular election of members of the Central American Parliament.Art. 455, Art. 458
- The Code defines electoral crimes and violations, their penalties and limitation periods, and rules on jurisdiction, appeals, evidence, and proceedings before electoral courts.Art. 463, Art. 499, Art. 505, Art. 607
- The Electoral Tribunal imposes specified administrative fines through reasoned resolutions, subject to reconsideration. Employees of the Electoral Tribunal and the Office of the Electoral Prosecutor General (Fiscalía General Electoral) are subject to the specified provision of the Judicial Code.Art. 644, Art. 645
Validity and changes.
- Law 5 of February 10, 1978Art. 646: repeals the law
- Law 81 of October 5, 1978Art. 646: repeals the law
- Law 12 of July 5, 1979Art. 646: repeals the law
- Law 10 of April 7, 1982Art. 646: repeals the law