ELECTIONS
Information about Registering to Vote for Elections and Standing for Congress or Prime Minister of Mount Vema
Standing for Congress or Prime Minister
If you are interested in standing as a candidate in the District or General Election you will first need to find out if you are eligible.

Standing as a Candidate
To stand as a candidate in a Mount Vema Election you need to be at least 18 years old and a citizen of the Kingdom of Mount Vema. However the rule has been relaxed on the 22nd of September 2020.
Elections under relaxed rule 22092020-1-Royal Order:
Under the new election rule, anyone with a significant interest in the Mount Vema Society or within the Vema Seamount territorial waters can stand as a candidate in an Election for Prime Minister of Mount Vema.

If you have investments with Mount Vema, you own a Mount Vema Title Plan, or if you are a holder of a Mount Vema Government marketable security such as a MVG-Note or MVG-Bond, you can visit the official Contact Page of Mount Vema to express your interest to become a candidate in the next election for Prime Minister of Mount Vema due in 2024.
 
You must express your interest no later than December 31st 2021. Manifestos must be submitted to be approved by the sovereign not later than December 31st 2022. Campaign starts on Monday the 2nd week of January 2023 and, ends December 20th 2023.      
 
This rule has been relaxed until December 31st 2054.
From January 1st 2055 you will have to be a Mount Vema citizen before you can stand as a candidate in any Election for Prime Minister.
Who is disqualified from standing as a Member of the Congress or Prime Minister?
Certain groups of people are not allowed to stand, these include:
-members of the police forces
-members of the armed forces
-civil servants and judges
-people who are subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order in Mount Vema or a debt relief restrictions order in Mount Vema or their country of origin.

Declaring your Candidacy
Once the Congress has dissolved you can declare that you are a candidate for election, or others can declare your candidacy.

Nominations
In order to become a 'validly nominated' candidate, which means your name will appear on a ballot paper, you need to submit a completed set of nomination forms together with a deposit of:
  • 5000 golles for District Governor election,
  • 10,000 golles for District Representative Member of Congress, or
  • 15,000 golles for General Elections as Prime Minister,
Paid to the (Acting) Returning Officer before 4pm on the deadline day for nominations.
As a 'validly nominated' candidate you will be entitled to broadcasting time for your campaign, as well as the use of certain rooms to hold public meetings.

Election Agent
Every candidate must have an election agent (if you wish you may act as your own agent). This is the person responsible in law for the proper management, particularly in terms of finances, of your election campaign.
Register to Vote for Elections
The electoral register is a list of names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in the Kingdom of Mount Vema.

You need to be on the electoral register in order to vote in Mount Vema District elections, and referendums, except when voting in general elections. All Mount Vema citizens including those living overseas can vote in general elections.

How to get on the electoral register
To be on the electoral register you will need to complete a register to vote form and send it to your District electoral registration office or online.

When can you register to Vote?
You can register to vote at any point throughout the year. You should be aware that there is a deadline for registering to vote which is determined by when the elections are held.

General Election 2024
To vote for Prime Minister in 2024, you must register no later than December 31st 20222. 

Who can register to Vote?
You can register to vote if you are:
-16 years old or over (but cannot vote until you are 18 years old)
-a Mount Vema citizen (can vote in any elections in Mount Vema)
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Voting in an election
There are three different ways you can vote, in person at a polling station, by post or via electronic mail.