Editing Elections in Lebanon (section)

=== 2017 electoral law ===
[[File:Distribution_of_seats_by_2017_Vote_Law_(Lebanon).png|thumb|350x350px|Distribution of seats between electoral districts per the 2017 law]]
On 15 May 2013, the Parliament extended its mandate for 17 months, due to the deadlock over the electoral law. And, on 5 November 2014, the Parliament enacted another extension, thus keeping its mandate for an additional 31 months, until 20 June 2017,<ref>[http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/11/lebanon-parliament-extension-foreign-decision.html Lebanon's MPs extend own terms]. ''Al-Monitor''. Published: 10 November 2014.</ref> and on 16 June 2017 the Parliament in turn extended its own mandate an additional 11 months to hold elections according to a much-anticipated reformed electoral law. After extending its term for 9 years, a new parliament was elected on 6 May 2018 in the [[2018 Lebanese general election|2018 general election]]. According to the Lebanese constitution<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanon's Constitution of 1926 with Amendments through 2004 |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Lebanon_2004.pdf?lang=en |access-date=22 October 2023 |website=Constitute}}</ref> and the electoral law of 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanese electoral law 2017 |url=http://mfa.gov.lb/Library/Files/Uploaded%20Files/Lebanese%20electoral%20law%202017.pdf |access-date=22 October 2023 |website=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants (Lebanon)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants]]}}</ref> elections are held on a Sunday during the 60 days preceding the end of the sitting parliament's mandate. In June 2017 a new electoral law was passed. The previous system (under which the 128 members of [[Parliament of Lebanon|parliament]] were elected from 26 multi-member constituencies under [[multiple non-transferable vote]], and the candidates with the highest number of votes within each religious community were elected)<ref name="IPU">[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2179_B.htm Electoral system] Inter-Parliamentary Union</ref> with a new electoral law instituting [[proportional representation]] in 15 multi-member constituencies while still maintaining the confessional distribution.<ref>[http://gulfnews.com/opinion/editorials/lebanon-passing-parliamentary-law-is-a-step-in-right-direction-1.2044624 Lebanon passing parliamentary law is a step in right direction] Gulf News, 16 June 2017</ref> However, the 7 out of the 15 of the electoral districts are divided into 2 or more 'minor districts' (largely corresponding to the smaller electoral districts from the old electoral law).<ref name="el">''[http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/mideast/LB/lebanon-law-no.44-parliamentary-elections-2017/at_download/file Table Attached to Law 44 dated 17/6/2017 (Official Gazette no.27 dated 17 June 2017) – Distribution of Seats to the Confessions and Districts]'' ACE Project</ref> Where applicable, [[Open list|preference vote]] is counted on the 'minor district' level.<ref>''Gulf News''. ''[http://gulfnews.com/news/mena/lebanon/lebanon-to-hold-parliamentary-elections-in-may-2018-1.2043638 Lebanon to hold parliamentary elections in May 2018]''</ref> With the 2017 electoral law, the country switched from a plurality voting system to a list-based proportional representation system.