Suriname holds elections for the 51-seat National Assembly (DNA), the nine-member regional councils (RR) and the district councils (DR). DNA, RR and DR members serve five-year terms. RR members are elected directly in each ressort, with 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 or 17 seats depending on population. DR seats are formed indirectly from the RR results, with 7, 9, 11, 15 or 21 seats depending on district population. Since the 25 May 2025 election, the DNA uses one nationwide constituency instead of district-based constituencies. Seats are allocated proportionally by the highest-average method. The list with the highest number of votes receives the first seat, and later seats go to the lists with the highest calculated averages. Preference votes can change the order of candidates when a candidate reaches the applicable party quotient. Parties and political organizations may submit lists with up to 51 candidates and 25 substitutes. The President and Vice President are not elected directly by voters. The DNA elects them for five years. A presidential candidate must be proposed by at least seven DNA members and needs 34 of the 51 votes. After two unsuccessful rounds, the Verenigde Volksvergadering (VVV), consisting of DNA, RR and DR members, elects the candidate by simple majority. A presidential candidate must have Surinamese nationality, be at least 30 years old, have voting rights, have no disqualifying constitutional violation and have lived or mainly resided in Suriname for at least six years before the candidacy. The Ministry of Home Affairs, known as BiZa, organizes elections, maintains the voters' register and arranges polling stations. The CBB manages the population register and issues identity, nationality and residence certificates. Districts-Commissarissen handle local election organization and polling cards. A Stembureau conducts voting and the public count. The Hoofdstembureau checks district results and may order a recount. The Centraal Hoofdstembureau, or CHS, approves candidate lists, determines seat allocation and consolidates the final result. The Onafhankelijk Kiesbureau, or OKB, supervises the process and gives the result its binding confirmation. A DNA voter must have Surinamese nationality, be registered as a resident on the fortieth day before candidate nomination and be at least 18 on election day. RR voting additionally requires main or actual residence in the relevant ressort. The voters' register is updated daily from the Central Population Register. Voter lists are available at BiZa, district commissioners' offices, police stations and online at least 30 days before the register closes. In 2025, the inspection period ran from 14 January to 12 February. A correction request had to be filed no later than the fortieth day before candidate nomination. The Minister decides within five days; further appeals can go to the President and then the Kantongerecht within the specified statutory periods. These proceedings are free of court fees and administrative charges. The Districts-Commissaris should provide an oproepingskaart at least three days before election day. It identifies the voter, voter number, electoral district or ressort, assigned polling station and voting time. A voter who loses the card or does not receive it can request a replacement from the Districts-Commissaris or Stembureau after proving identity. The assigned polling station follows the address recorded in the population register. Voting takes place personally at the assigned Stembureau, normally from 07:00 to 19:00. The voter presents a valid identity card, Surinamese passport or Surinamese driving licence and the oproepingskaart. Officials check identity and voting authorization, then issue one DNA ballot and one RR ballot. On each ballot, the voter marks one red box for one candidate. The ballot also needs the BiZa stamp, stamp number and chairperson's signature. One replacement ballot is available for each election if the voter makes a mistake. Photographing an open ballot is prohibited, and taking or withholding a ballot can lead to criminal consequences. Employers must allow employees to take part in voting. Proxy voting is limited to defined groups, including election workers serving outside their electoral area, police or army personnel on duty outside their district, and certain CHS or OKB officials and inspectors. The application goes to the Districts-Commissaris at least six days before election day. The proxy holder must be from the same voters' list or Stembureau, and one person may hold no more than one proxy. The researched rules do not provide a general postal or overseas ballot. A voter with a physical disability may use one personal assistant who is at least 18 and has a valid identity document, subject to approval by the polling-station chair. The assistant may accompany the voter to the booth or help mark the ballot according to the voter's choice. In 2025, no Braille or audio voting system was available, and the statutory assistance rule did not automatically cover reading difficulties or intellectual or multiple disabilities. Counting begins immediately after polling closes. Officials count DNA ballots first and RR ballots afterwards. The chair reads each candidate or political organization aloud and shows each ballot while members keep separate lists of valid and invalid ballots. Citizens, observers and supervisors may attend. A ballot is invalid if it marks more than one candidate, lacks a valid mark, contains additions, lacks the required stamp or lacks the required voter mark. Objections are recorded in the official report. The polling station immediately displays a copy of that report, while sealed materials are sent to the Hoofdstembureau under police protection. The Hoofdstembureau can recount when serious objections justify it. The CHS consolidates and publishes the result, and the OKB gives the binding confirmation. Elected DNA members must declare acceptance within 14 days. Vacancies are normally filled by the highest-ranking unelected candidate on the relevant list. The DNA then examines credentials, swears in members and elects the President and Vice President. Government formation generally depends on coalition support in the DNA rather than on a direct presidential vote. In 2025, 14 political organizations contested the DNA election; the NDP won 18 seats, VHP 17, NPS 6, ABOP 6, PL 2, BEP 1 and A20 1. The OKB confirmed the result as binding on 20 June 2025, and Jennifer Geerlings-Simons was elected President by the DNA on 6 July 2025. The 2025 election recorded approximately 69.25% turnout, 277,737 voters and 98.57% valid ballots. Observers described the election as peaceful and inclusive, while also reporting delayed openings, staffing and training gaps, repeated counts and uncertainty about assistance rules. The OKB identified irregularities in several locations, including Totness, Johanna Maria and Tapanahony, but found no manipulation that changed the election result.
Elections in Suriname
Elections in Suriname choose members of the National Assembly, called the DNA, and local councils, while the President and Vice President are elected indirectly. The DNA has 51 seats and, since 2025, uses one nationwide constituency with proportional representation and preference votes. Voters usually cast their ballots personally at an assigned polling station using an approved Surinamese identity document.
Tip
Use personal voting at your assigned polling station as the default plan for elections in Suriname. Confirm your registration, polling station, oproepingskaart and accepted identity document before election day, because a missing document, wrong station or unarranged assistance can prevent a smooth vote. Treat proxy voting and candidacy as exception-based procedures with separate eligibility checks and strict deadlines.