Elections in Kiribati

Elections in Kiribati are held every 4 years or, earlier, after a no confidence vote. They consist in the national elections of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu from whom is then elected the Beretitenti, shortly after, by the people. They are also local elections of the Councils (one council in each inhabited island and 3 councils in Tarawa).

Kiribati elects on national level a legislature and then a head of state - the president. The president is elected for a four-year term by the people. The House of Assembly (Maneaba ni Maungatabu) has 45 members, 44 elected for a four-year term in single-seat and multi-seat constituencies, and 1 delegate from Rabi Island representing Banaba. The initial number was of 35 in 1978, because the first elections have been held one year before independence in 1979, .

Kiribati has a Westminster system two-party system, which means that there are two dominant political parties, since 2020, but the political parties, that exist since 1965, are not central to political life.

Kiribati has an informal party system, and the website of the House of Assembly of Kiribati says the following on the topic:^[1]

The parties are loose groupings rather than disciplined blocks, with little or no structure. Members may change allegiance on a number of occasions during their tenure. It is also common for members to vote according to the special interests of their electorate on certain issues.

Latest national elections

2020 Presidential election

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Taneti Maamau	Tobwaan Kiribati	26,053	59.32
Banuera Berina	Boutokaan Kiribati Moa	17,866	40.68
Invalid/blank votes		112	0.25
Total		44,031	100
Registered voters/turnout		55,268	79.67
Source: Ministry of Justice

2020 Parliamentary election

Party	First round			Second round			Total seats	+/–
Party	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats	Total seats	+/–
Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party			13			9	22	+9
Tobwaan Kiribati Party			10			12	22	−9
Non-partisan	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	0
Speaker (not MP)	–	–	–	–	–	–	(1)	0
Invalid/blank votes	56	0.15	–	32	0.12	–	–	–
Total	38,445	100.00	23	27,203	100.00	21	45	0
Registered voters/turnout	44,271	86.84	–	30,953	87.88	–	–	–
Source: Radio Kiribati