Independent Electoral Council Suriname


Who are we?



Independent Electoral Council Suriname



Suriname is a democracy, and like any democratic country, it has an independent electoral office that is responsible for ensuring free and fair elections. In Suriname, this office is called the Independent Electoral Council. In Dutch it is referred to as Onafhankelijk Kiesbureau and abbreviated as OKB. The Independent Electoral Council in Suriname is a non-partisan body that is responsible for supervising the national and regional elections in the country. The Independent Electoral Council in Suriname was established in 1987 by enacting the election law called “Kiesregeling” with the aim of ensuring that all elections in the country are conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The Independent Electoral Council in Suriname is an independent body and is not subject to the control of any political party, organization or government. The Independent Electoral Council in Suriname is an important institution that helps to ensure that the democratic process in the country is upheld. By supervising free and fair elections, the Independent Electoral Council in Suriname helps to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and that the government represents the will of the people. The Independent Electoral Council in Suriname is committed to upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to participate in the political process. In conclusion, the Independent Electoral Council in Suriname plays a crucial role in ensuring that elections in the country are conducted in a free and fair manner. By registering political parties, supervising elections and the voting process and certifying election results, the Independent Electoral Council in Suriname helps to uphold the democratic principles of the country.



Mission





The Independent Electoral Council Suriname safeguards the rule of law and the experience of democracy for every Surinamese by ensuring that the entire electoral process of pre-election, electoral and post-election is fair, accurate and accessible. The Independent Electoral Council Suriname guarantees optimal protection of the right to vote by ensuring that general, free and secret elections are organized.



Vision





The Independent Electoral Council Suriname strives to be the best authority on election supervision in the Caribbean and South America, operating professionally, independently and autonomously.



Core Values



Trustworthiness





For the Independent Electoral Council Suriname, public trust, stakeholders’ confidence, objective oversight of all facets of the electoral process and the acceptance of the election results are the most important assets.



Democratic





The Independent Electoral Council Suriname bases its decision-making on democratic principles.



Professionalism





The Independent Electoral Council Suriname is a professional body that meets the highest international standards in terms of code of conduct and best practices.



Integrity





The Independent Electoral Council Suriname places honesty and transparency at the heart of all its actions.



Impartial





The Independent Electoral Council Suriname is impartial and above parties in all its actions and communications.



Key Responsibilities



Supervisory Function





The OKB supervises the general free and secret elections in Suriname. This supervision covers all activities within the election cycle (pre-electoral, electoral, post- electoral). The supervision extends, among other things, to the regular maintenance and updating of the voters' register, the careful compilation of the voters' lists, the provision and creation of the possibility of collecting poll cards, the nomination of candidates and the associated other legal procedures, the training and uniform instructions to polling stations and everything related to the functioning of polling stations in accordance with legal regulations, all activities related to the creation, transport, storage and distribution of ballot papers.



Research Function





The OKB is authorized to examine the electoral rolls and make a judgment on their reliability. Among other things, it examines whether the electoral rolls have been updated in accordance with improvements and additions found to be necessary or ordered by the court, the electoral register has been established, maintained and updated daily in accordance with the law, all eligible voters have been entered in the electoral register in accordance with the manner prescribed by law, the establishment of the electoral rolls has taken place by the Minister of Home Affairs for the conduct of elections.



Guarantee Function





Through the accurate exercise of its supervision and control functions, the OKB provides a guarantee to society about the veracity of the organization of elections, the votes cast, the vote count and about the results of the elections. The OKB determines the results of elections binding on society. It further ensures that all legal regulations governing elections are observed, that the right to vote is guaranteed and that elections are free, fair and transparent.



Enforcement Function





The legislature has entrusted the OKB with the enforcement function. The OKB can perform this function throughout the election cycle without any interference from third parties. It has the power to take immediate action on complaints of improper functioning of the Central Chief Electoral Bureau, a Chief Electoral Bureau or a Polling Station which it deems necessary.



Registration Function





The OKB is responsible for registering or re-registering political organizations in the public register kept for that purpose by the OKB. Before proceeding with registration, it tests whether the political organizations comply with the democratic principles as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname and in lower regulations.



The Composition of the Independent Electoral Council Suriname




Pursuant to the Election Law (Kiesregeling), the Independent Electoral Council is composed of at least 7 members and 3 alternate members. These are all appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic of Suriname. The appointment is for a period of 6 years. At the end of this period, members and alternate members may be reappointed immediately. From among the members, the President of the Republic of Suriname shall appoint the president and alternate president. Upon appointment, the president, members, and alternate members of the Independent Electoral Council shall take the oath of office in the hands of the President of the Republic of Suriname, as stipulated in article 1(5) of the Kiesregeling. A secretary as well as a secretariat will also be added to the Independent Electoral Council. The secretary shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Suriname.


Only persons who are residents of the Republic of Suriname who possess Surinamese nationality, have reached the age of 23 years and are not excluded from exercising the right to vote may be appointed as members of the Independent Electoral Council. The criteria for exclusion from the right to vote are listed in article 58 of the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname and article 6 of the Kiesregeling.




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Code of Conduct



The Independent Electoral Council Suriname follows a strict code of conduct.


Read Code of Conduct

Independent Electoral Council Suriname



Krakalaan # 12, Paramaribo - Suriname

Tel: +597- 431- 331 | +597- 431- 660 | +597 - 888 - 6988

electoralcouncil@okb.sr