Understanding Elections in Cameroon: The Process and the Practice

In Cameroon, our electoral process is defined by both the rules written in the constitution and the practical realities that shape political competition. This overview explains how presidential elections are designed to work and how they are practically experienced.

 The Official Framework

Cameroon is a republic with a president who serves as the head of state. The president is elected directly by the people for a term of seven years. The constitution does not set a limit on how many terms a president can serve.

The country has a legislative body called the National Assembly, with 180 members elected for five year terms. The organization responsible for managing elections is Elections Cameroon, commonly known as ELECAM.

To participate in elections, a citizen must be at least 20 years old. A person who wishes to run for President must be at least 35 years old. While several political parties operate, the law does not allow independent candidates to run for parliament. The requirements for an independent presidential candidacy are legally complex, which has prevented any independent candidate from successfully running.

 The Single Round Presidential Vote

A key feature of our presidential elections is the single round system. This means the election is decided in one voting round, without a subsequent runoff between the top candidates.

To win in this single round, a candidate must obtain an absolute majority, which means more than half of all valid votes cast. If no candidate achieves this majority, the candidate who receives the most votes is declared the winner.

 The Central Role of Key Regions

Beyond the legal provisions, the distribution of voters across the country significantly influences elections. A fundamental aspect of our demography is that the electorate is not spread evenly. A majority of all registered voters reside in a relatively small number of geographic departments.

This concentration means that political strategy is heavily focused on these voter rich areas. During campaigns, political parties dedicate most of their efforts to these regions. For those analyzing the election, the results from these departments provide the clearest and earliest indication of the likely national outcome.

 From Voting to a Projected Outcome

On election day, citizens cast their votes at local polling stations where the counting takes place. These results are then gathered by ELECAM for the official national tally.

Because of the decisive weight of the key departments, it is standard practice for political parties and analysts to project a winner based on the trends from these areas. When a candidate builds a strong lead in these regions, one that seems mathematically secure given the number of votes remaining elsewhere, they are often projected as the winner. This projection typically happens well before the constitutional council announces the final, certified results.

In essence, while the election in Cameroon follows a clear set of constitutional rules, the practical dynamics, especially the influence of key geographic areas, are equally important to the process. The system is designed for a single round contest where the strategic focus on certain regions often leads to an early understanding of the final result.