Parliamentary Democracy System
A parliamentary system or parliamentary democracy is a system of democratic governance of a state where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the support of the legislature, typically a parliament to which it is accountable. A democracy where the people choose the representatives hold elections regularly. In the case of Aruba, the main elections are held every four years. Early or irregular elections only take place if the government is dissolved preterm/ahead of time.
The basic principles of Aruba’s electoral system are laid out in the constitution. The election takes place through proportionate representation; this means that the number of votes for the candidates is divided by 21, which is the number of senators that the Aruban Parliament has. This number is, therefore, referred to as the quota. The candidates of the parties are hereafter righteously chosen within the proportion of this quota to become senators in the parliament of Aruba.
In our electoral system, each citizen is only allowed to vote once, for one candidate, through an anonymous vote.
This means that you don’t have to share who you voted for with anyone. Moreover, the vote is also considered free, which means that no one can intimidate you or influence you towards voting for a specific candidate. In Aruba, citizens are not forced to vote, so voting is considered freedom of choice and up to the individual.
years for new election
senators in Aruban Parliament
vote per voter
To qualify for voting in the upcoming elections
- Dutch Nationality;
- Registered in Aruba’s Civil Registry & the voting registry;
- Minimum 18 years old;
- Not excluded from the right to vote.
To be able to participate on the day of the election, the requisites are:
- In possession of the voting card;
- In possession of a valid identification: a passport, driver’s license or local I.D.;
Aruba, as well as the other countries within the Dutch Kingdom, has a system of parliamentary democracy. Each citizen votes for their senator of choice to represent them in the parliament. The Parliament of Aruba consists of 21 members, who are elected through voting. The task of the senators in parliament is to be a representative for the voice of the citizens. Through the senators’, citizens can exert influence on the government. To become a senator, there a several requisites that a citizen must adhere to. A person must be an Aruban citizen and they must hold Dutch nationality. Moreover, the person must be 21 years or older and not be excluded of their right to vote.
After the Supreme Council of Election confirms the results, all candidates running for senators of the parliament must hand in their credentials. These credentials consist of two documents, which are the notification of the Supreme Council of Election that the candidate has been elected, and the proof of the president of the Counsel which he receives from the candidate accepting this position.
The investigation of the credentials of the candidate’s main goal is to assess if the candidate has another title which may be in conflict with his/her function as a senator in the parliament. Ministers and senators are not allowed to have relatives up to a second degree within their organization. After the approval of the credentials, the candidate must pledge the oath of office in front of the Governor of Aruba before assuming their position.
