At stake in this Referendum:

• A referendum to amend the Article 120 of the Constitution, allowing Paraguayans living abroad to vote.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez *
• Head of Government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez
• Assembly: Paraguay has a bicameral Congress (Congreso) consisting of the Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) with 45 seats* and the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) with 80 seats**.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by plurality vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) 45 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms*. In the Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados) 80 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms.**

* Senators are elected in one national constituency.

** The Chamber of deputies is divided into 18 multi member constituencies.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• A referendum to amend Article 120 of the Constitution, allowing Paraguayans living abroad to vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 6,293,763 (2011)
• Registered Voters: 3,039,308 (October 2011)​

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 3,100,107 (2011)

·         Is Paraguay a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Paraguay ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (12 January 1995)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 10 (Chamber of Deputies); 7 (Senate) following the 2008 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 112 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Paraguay a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Paraguay ratified CRPD: Yes (3 September 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 944,064 (est.)