At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Dominican Republic

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Rafael Hipólito MEJIA Domínguez
• Head of Government: President Rafael Hipólito MEJIA Domínguez
• Assembly: Dominican Republic has a bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consisting of the Senate (Senado) with 32 seats and the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) with 150 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term.
• In the Senate (Senado) 32 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms. In the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) 150 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna
  • Party: (PLD)
• Rafael Hipólito MEJIA Domínguez
  • Party: (PRD)
• Rafael Eduardo ESTRELLA Virella
  • Party: (PRSC)

Last Presidential election:

• Presidential elections were last held on May 16, 2000. In this election, Rafael Hipólito MEJIA Domínguez of the PRD won the presidency with 49.87% of the votes while Danilo MEDINA of the PLD secured 24.95% of the votes and Joaquin

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 9,102,997 (2004)
• Registered Voters: 5,020,703 ( 2004 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,551,498 (2004)

·         Is Dominican Republic a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Dominican Republic ratified CEDAW: Yes (2 September 1982)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: No

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 26 (Chamber of Deputies); 2 (Senate) (following the 2002 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 101 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very Low (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Dominican Republic a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Dominican Republic ratified CRPD: Yes (18 August 2009)

·         Population with a disability: 1,365,449 (est.)