AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
Home | About the Database | Terms & Definitions | Election Calendar | Election Chronology | Recent Elections | Electoral Authorities | Sub-National Elections | Freedom/Democracy/Human Rights | Site Updates | Links
Elections in Côte d'Ivoire
 
Political Profile
Political System: Restricted Democratic Practice
President: Alassane Ouattara (RDR) [since 4 December 2010; declared elected by the Independent Electoral Commission on 2 December 2010, in opposition to Laurent Gbagbo to 11 April 2011] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Prime Minister: Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio (PDCI) [since 13 March 2012] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
National Assembly [unicameral] (225 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post (simple majority) system; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1960-1990 One Party State (PDCI-RDA)
1990         Multiparty Transition
1990-1999 Restricted Democratic Practice
1999-2000 Military Regime
2000-        Restricted Democratic Practice
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 6, Civil Liberties - 6, Status: Not Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2015
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: 2016
Political Parties: AIRD - Ivorian Alliance for the Republic and Democracy, FPI - Ivorian Popular Front (left-wing, social-democratic), MFA - Movement of Forces of the Future, MNC - Citizens' Alternative National Movement, PDCI-RDA - Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (authoritarian), PIT - Ivorian Workers’ Party (far-left), PRCI - Republican Party of Côte d'Ivoire, PURCI - Party for Unity and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, RDR - Rally of the Republicans (centrist, liberal), RPP - Rally for Peace, Progress, and Sharing, UDCI - Union of Democrats of Côte d'Ivoire, UDCY - Citizens' Democratic Union, UDPCI - Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire, UNG - Union of the New Generations, UPCI - Union for Côte d'Ivoire, URD - Republican Union for Democracy, USD - Union of Social Democrats, USP - People's Socialist Union.
Coalitions: The Presidential Majority (LMP) [Supported Laurent Gbagbo in the 2010 Presidential Election] Member parties include the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Ivorian Alliance for the Republic and Democracy (AIRD), Citizens' Alternative National Movement (MNC), Republican Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PRCI), Party for Unity and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (PURCI), Rally for Peace, Progress, and Sharing (RPP), Citizens' Democratic Union (UDCY), Union of the New Generations (UNG), Republic Union for Democracy (URD), and the Union of Social Democrats (USD); Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) [Supported Alassane Ouattara in the 2010 Presidential Election] Member parties include the Rally of the Republicans (RDR), Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), Movement of Forces of the Future (MFA), and the Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI).
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
--Single Party: 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985
--Multiparty: 1990, 1995, 2000, 2010
Legislative
--Single Party: 1959, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985
--Multiparty: 1990, 1995, 2000, 2011
Constitutional Referendum: 1958, 2000
 
 
28 September 1958 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Approval of the constitution meant internal autonomy within the "French Community." France agreed to grant independence to any territory that rejected the proposed constitution.
Ballot Question: Do you approve the Constitution proposed by the Government of the Republic?

Registered Voters

1,636,533

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,596,610 (97.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       1,156

Total Valid Votes

1,595,454

Results Number of Votes % of Votes
"Yes" Votes 1,595,238 99.99%
"No" Votes 216 0.01%
 
12 April 1959 Legislative Assembly Election

Registered Voters

1,609,345

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,523,580 (94.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       1,256

Total Valid Votes

1,522,324

Party Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (100)
Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA)

1,522,324

100.00%

100

 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA)
27 November 1960 Presidential Election (Félix Houphouët-Boigny elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

1,661,883

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,641,542 (98.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          190

Total Valid Votes

1,641,352 (99.99%)

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

1,641,352 (100.00%)

27 November 1960 National Assembly Election (70 Seats)

Registered Voters

1,661,883

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,593,135 (95.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       6,617

Total Valid Votes

1,586,518 (99.58%)

PDCI-RDA

1,586,518 (100.00%)

7 November 1965 Presidential Election (Félix Houphouët-Boigny re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

1,875,547

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,867,937 (99.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          332

Total Valid Votes

1,867,605 (99.98%)

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

1,867,605 (100.00%)

7 November 1965 National Assembly Election (85 Seats)

Registered Voters

1,875,547

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,867,937 (99.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       4,932

Total Valid Votes

1,863,005 (99.74%)

PDCI-RDA

1,863,005 (100.00%)

29 November 1970 Presidential Election (Félix Houphouët-Boigny re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

2,020,000

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,003,714 (99.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          668

Total Valid Votes

2,003,046 (99.97%)

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

2,003,046 (100.00%)

29 November 1970 National Assembly Election (100 Seats)

Registered Voters

2,020,000

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,999,643 (99.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       2,083

Total Valid Votes

1,997,560 (99.90%)

PDCI-RDA

1,997,560 (100.00%)

16 November 1975 Presidential Election (Félix Houphouët-Boigny re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

2,410,042

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,405,407 (99.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          502

Total Valid Votes

2,404,905 (99.98%)

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

2,404,905 (100.00%)

16 November 1975 National Assembly Election (120 Seats)

Registered Voters

2,410,042

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,393,019 (99.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       2,453

Total Valid Votes

2,390,566 (99.90%)

PDCI-RDA

2,390,566 (100.00%)

12 October 1980 Presidential Election (Félix Houphouët-Boigny re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

3,398,056

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,795,456 (82.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

          306

Total Valid Votes

2,795,150 (99.99%)

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

2,795,150 (100.00%)

9 & 23 November 1980 National Assembly Election* (147 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,398,056

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,447,572 (42.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

Not Available

PDCI-RDA

100.00%

*Registered and total vote figures are from the first round of the election held on 9 November 1985.
27 October 1985 Presidential Election (Félix Houphouët-Boigny re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

3,517,259

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

3,516,542

Félix Houphouët-Boigny

3,516,542 (100.00%)

10 November 1985 National Assembly Election (175 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,517,259

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,606,332 (45.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

Not Available

PDCI-RDA

100.00%

 
28 October 1990 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

4,408,810

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,049,133 (69.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     55,327

Total Valid Votes

2,993,806

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Félix Houphouët-Boigny (PDCI-RDA) 2,445,365 81.68%
Laurent Gbagbo (FPI) 548,441 18.32%
 
25 November 1990 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

4,408,810

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,872,292 (42.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     24,480

Total Valid Votes

1,847,812

Party Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (175)
Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) 1,324,549 71.68% 163
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) 365,999 19.81% 9
Ivorian Workers’ Party (PIT) 157,264 8.51% 1
Others

-

Independents 2
 
22 October 1995 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

1,706,121

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Henri Konan Bédié  (PDCI-RDA) 1,640,635 96.16%
Francis Wodié (PIT) 65,486 3.84%
*Boycotted by the opposition Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) and Rally of the Republicans (RDR).
 
26 November 1995 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party Number of Seats (175)
Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) 148
Rally of the Republicans (RDR) 14
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) 12
Vacant 1
*Elections were annulled in some constituencies following the election. Elections were held 29 December 1996 to fill the vacant seats.
 
23-24 July 2000 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Presidential Republic, Parliament with one chamber, Both parents of presidential candidates must have been born in Côte d'Ivoire.

Registered Voters

5,017,087

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,808,157 (56.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     85,143

Total Valid Votes

2,723,014

Results Number of Votes % of Votes
"Yes" Votes 2,356,161 86.53%
"No" Votes 366,853 13.47%
 
22 October 2000 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

5,475,143

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,049,018 (37.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   254,012

Total Valid Votes

1,795,006

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Laurent Gbagbo (FPI) 1,065,597 59.36%
Robert Guéï 587,267 32.72%
Francis Wodié (PIT) 102,253 5.70%
Théodore Mel (UDCI) 26,331 1.47%
Nicolas Dioulou 13,558 0.76%
*The Rally of the Republicans (RDR) and Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) boycotted the election.
 
10 December 2000 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

5,517,593

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,740,240 (31.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   192,442

Total Valid Votes

1,547,798

Party Number of Seats (225)
Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) 96
Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) 94
Rally of the Republicans (RDR) 5
Ivorian Workers’ Party (PIT) 4
Union of Democrats of Côte d'Ivoire (UDCI) 1
Movement of Forces of the Future (MFA) 1
Independents 22
Vacant 2
*Balloting was not held on 10 December 2000 for 28 seats in northern constituencies because of unrest affiliated with an election boycott by the main faction of the Rally of Republicans (RDR). Balloting for 26 of the outstanding seats was conducted in a by-election on 14 January 2001.
 
October/November 2010 Presidential Election
First Round (31 October 2010)

Registered Voters

5,784,490

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

4,843,445 (83.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   225,624

Total Valid Votes

4,617,821

Second Round (28 November 2010)*

Registered Voters

5,780,804 (5,725,721)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

4,689,366 (4,081,765) [81.1% (71.3%)]

Invalid/Blank Votes

     99,147      (88,556)

Total Valid Votes

4,590,219 (3,993,209)

Candidate (Party) [Coalition] First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes* % of Votes*
Laurent Gbagbo (FPI) [LMP] 1,756,504 38.04% 2,107,055 (2,054,537) 45.90%
(51.45%)
Alassane Ouattara (RDR) [RHDP] 1,481,091 32.07% 2,483,164 (1,938,672) 54.10%
(48.55%)
Henri Konan Bédié (PDCI-RDA) 1,165,532 25.24% - -
Albert Mabri (UDPCI) 118,671 2.57% - -
Konan Gnamien (UPCI) 17,171 0.37% - -
Francis Wodié (PIT) 13,406 0.29% - -
Siméon Konan 12,357 0.27% - -
Jacqueline Lohoues 12,273 0.27% - -
Pascal Tagoua 11,674 0.25% - -
Innocent Anaky (MFA) 10,663 0.23% - -
Adama Dolo 5,972 0.13% - -
N'Douba Enoh Aka 5,311 0.12% - -
Félix Akoto Yao 4,773 0.10% - -
Henri Tohou (USP) 2,423 0.05% - -
*The first set of figures are based on the 2 December 2010 provisional results published by the Electoral Commission, which show Alassane Ouatarra winning a majority of the votes cast. The second set of figures (in parentheses) are based on the 3 December 2010 decision of the Constitutional Council, which controversially declared Laurent Gbagbo the winner after a significant amount of votes were annulled in areas of the country seen as strongholds of Alassane Ouattara. Following a protracted political dispute that deteriorated into armed conflict, the Constitutional Council reversed its previous declaration and proclaimed Ouattara president on 5 May 2011.
 
11 December 2011 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

5,664,377

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,070,793 (36.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   112,461

Total Valid Votes

1,958,332

Party Number of Seats (255)
Rally of the Republicans (RDR) 122
Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) 76
Union for Democracy and Peace in Côte d'Ivoire (UDPCI) 6
Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) 4
Movement of Forces of the Future (MFA) 3
Union for Côte d'Ivoire (UPCI) 1
Independents 31
Invalidated 11
Vacant** 1
*The Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) boycotted the election.
**The election was postponed in one constituency (Logoualé) due to the death of a candidate.