Costa Rica

A unitary democratic, free, independent, multiethnic, and multicultural republic.

The country is divided into seven provinces for general public administration. Provinces are subdivided into 84 cantons, which are further divided into 488 districts. Each municipality’s territorial jurisdiction corresponds to its canton, whose capital serves as the seat of municipal government. Municipalities possess the political, administrative, and financial autonomy granted by the Political Constitution.

The Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica is unicameral, composed of 57 legislators elected by universal suffrage.

Each canton is governed by a municipal government composed of a deliberative council made up of councilors as determined by law, a mayor and their respective deputy, all elected by popular vote. There are also two vice-mayors (first and second), where the first vice-mayor performs administrative and operational duties assigned by the mayor and replaces the mayor during temporary or permanent absences with the same responsibilities and authority. Municipalities enjoy the political, administrative, and financial autonomy established by the Constitution.

The presidential term is four years, as is that of the Legislative Assembly deputies. In both cases, immediate reelection is prohibited. All municipal elected positions have a four-year term and can be reelected.

The presidency and vice presidency are elected simultaneously by a majority exceeding 40% of valid votes cast. Deputies to the Legislative Assembly, councilors, members of municipal district councils, and district council members are elected by the quotient and subquotient system (Art. 201, Electoral Code). Mayors, intendants, syndics, and their deputies are elected by relative majority in their respective canton or district. In case of a tie, the oldest candidate and their respective deputy are declared elected (Art. 202, Electoral Code).

Closed and blocked lists.

Uninominal for mayors and syndics; plurinominal for councilors. Legislative Assembly: 7 plurinominal constituencies (4 to 21 seats according to population), one for each province.

Yes, the principle of gender parity is enshrined in the Electoral Code (Law No. 8765). Article 2 establishes that all delegations, lists, and collegiate bodies with even numbers of members must be composed of 50% women and 50% men; in bodies with an odd number of members, the difference between men and women may not exceed one. All candidate lists must alternate gender so that two persons of the same sex do not appear consecutively. Law No. 10327, approved in 2022, guarantees gender parity in the composition of collegiate bodies of local governments.

Political Constitution of 1949; Law No. 7794 ("Municipal Code", updated in 2022); Law No. 4366 on Territorial Administrative Division.

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal is the highest constitutional electoral authority and is responsible for organizing, directing, and overseeing electoral processes. It enjoys independence in carrying out its duties. The Tribunal oversees other electoral bodies such as the Civil Registry and Electoral Boards, which are temporary and consist of Cantonal Boards and Polling Stations. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal has final jurisdiction over appeals and consultations related to Civil Registry resolutions. Tribunal members are appointed by the Supreme Court of Justice.