On 10 November 2002 the citizens of Slovenia will go to the polls to elect a President of the Republic for a third time since the country gained independence. The previous presidential elections were held in 1992 and 1997.
Of the 1,619,724 people who are entitled to vote, a total of 1,605,281 voters are included in the electoral register.
Electoral legislation
The President of the Republic is elected in direct, general elections by secret ballot. Elections to the office of the President of the Republic are called by the President of the National assembly. The President of the Republic is elected for a five-year term of office and may be elected for a maximum of two consecutive terms. All citizens of Slovenia who on the day of the election have reached the age of 18 years and who have not been deprived of legal capacity have the right to vote for and stand for election as President of the Republic.
Presidential candidates may be nominated by deputies of the National Assembly, political parties and voters. Deputies nominate candidates by their signature. A candidate can be nominated by a group of at least ten deputies of the National Assembly. Political parties nominate candidates according to the procedure laid down in their rules. Candidates are chosen by secret ballot. Each political party may nominate only one candidate. Two or more political parties may nominate a joint candidate. A candidature must be supported by the signature of at least three deputies of the National Assembly or by at least three thousand voters. An independent candidature may be proposed by a group of at least five thousand voters. The result of the election for President of the Republic is established by the National Electoral Commission. The candidate who obtains a majority of the valid votes cast is elected President of the Republic. If no candidate obtains a majority of the votes a second round of voting is held with the two candidates who obtained the most votes.