Prior to establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1995, there were no general elections conducted. After being established, the PNA issued the following Elections Laws:
General Elections (Legislative and Presidential Elections Laws)
I. Elections Law No. 13 of 1995 (cancelled by Elections Law No.9 of 2005)
The first Palestinian general elections were held in accordance with the Palestinian Elections Law No.13 of 1995, that law adopts the simple majority system (districts).
Palestinian Elections Law No. 13 of 1995.
II. Elections Law No. 9 of 2005 (cancelled by Decree in Law No.1 of 2007)
This law adopts the mixed electoral system by which 50% of the total 132 PLC seats are elected through the majority system (districts) and the other 50% are elected through the proportional representation system (lists). PLC elections in 2006 were conducted according to this law.
Elections Law No 9 of 2005
III. Decree in Law for the year 2007 pertaining to general elections (NEW)
On September 2, 2007, Mr. President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree that has the power of law pertaining to presidential and legislative elections. The decree stipulates the annulment of Elections Law No. 9 of 2005.
The main features of this decree is law adopting the full proportional system in the closed lists for the PLC elections and considers Palestine as one electoral district. Moreover, the decree in law redefines the residency requirements, nomination eligibility for presidency and PLC by adding the condition to recognize PLO, basic law and Independency Charter.
In addition, this decree in law adopted two rounds system for presidency election which means that the candidate who won should get the absolute majority (50% or more of votes), otherwise second round of election must be held and the candidate who gets more votes wins.
The decree (Translated by IFES)
Local Elections
Local Councils Elections Law No. (10) Of 2005
The first two rounds of local elections were held according to the cancelled Local Councils Elections Law No. 5 of 1996 and its amendments according to the majority system (districts). While rounds three and four were held according to the new Local Councils Elections Law No. 10 of 2005 which adopted the system of proportional representation (lists). The fifth round of local elections were to be held in Dec. 2007 according to Local Councils Elections Law No. 10 of 2005, but were not.
Local Councils Elections Law No. 10 of 2005
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