Uruguay

The nation adopts the democratic republican form of government (Article 82 of the Constitution of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay). 

The country has three levels of government and administration: national, departmental, and municipal. The second level of government is comprised of 19 departmental governments (territorially corresponding to the departments). Municipalities, as the third level of government and administration, are relatively new, having existed in the country since 2009. There are currently 125 municipalities.

Legislative Power is exercised by the General Assembly, which is composed of two chambers: one of Representatives and other of Senators, whose members are directly elected by the people. The House of Representatives is composed of 99 members, and the Senate is composed of 30.

Municipalities are bodies composed of five members, and their positions are elected. They are composed of a mayor, who presides over the municipality, and a municipal council.

All elected officials have five-year terms.

The President and Vice President of the Republic are elected jointly and directly by the Electoral Body by an absolute majority of voters. A system of full proportional representation is used for the elections of members of Congress and municipalities. In the case of municipalities, the first incumbent on the list with the most votes within the respective territorial constituency is proclaimed mayor.

Closed party list.

For the offices of President, Vice President, and members of the Senate, a single electoral district exists. In the case of the House of Representatives, the districts are departmental, and in municipal elections, each municipality is a district (single-member for mayors and multi-member for council members).

Yes, Law No. 19555 of 2017 establishes equal participation of both sexes in national, departmental, and municipal elective bodies and in the leadership of political parties. The law requires that, in all elections—first or second-tier—candidacy lists include members of both sexes in each list of principals and alternates. This criterion applies to elections to the Senate, the House of Representatives, departmental councils, municipalities, electoral boards, and mayors.

Constitution of the Republic and Law of Decentralization and Citizen Participation (2014).

"The Electoral Court shall have the following powers: (a) To adjudicate all matters relating to electoral acts and proceedings; (b) To exercise directive, corrective, consultative and economic oversight over electoral organs; (c) To serve as the court of final instance for all appeals and claims regarding matters under its jurisdiction, and to adjudicate all elections, plebiscites and referenda. The Electoral Court is composed of nine members who will have twice as many alternates. Five members and their alternates will be appointed by the General Assembly in a meeting of both chambers by a two-thirds vote of the total number of members. They must be citizens who, due to their political position, guarantee their impartiality.