The 2011 judicial elections in Bolivia

Abstract

Please cite this article in press as: Drisco doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2012.04.006 On October 16, 2011 Bolivian citizens cast ballots for 56 judges of the national Bolivian high courts. This is the second national election under the new Bolivian constitution, which was ratified by public referendum in January 2009. The candidates who received a simple majority of the valid votes cast assumed responsibilities as national magistrates for the Bolivian Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo de Justicia), the Plurinational Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional Plurinacional), the Bolivian Judicial Council (Consejo de la Magistratura; the high administrative body of the national judiciary), and the Bolivian Agricultural Court (Tribunal Agroambiental). This election is notable for several reasons. First, it marked the first time that the Bolivian public directly elected its judges. Additionally, this election marked the first instance of popular election for national high courts in recent world history. Beyond this novelty, this electoral process is consequential for its possible effects on Bolivian judicial independence and the questions it raises about the future of Bolivian democracy. This research note describes this election in comparative historical terms, reviews the development of the electoral law and process, and summarizes the outcome of the elections.