2003 electoral calendar

This electoral calendar for the year 2003 lists the national/federal direct elections to be held in 2003 in the de jure and de facto sovereign states. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included.

January

• 5 January: Lithuania, President (second round) ^[1]
• 10 January: Djibouti, Parliament ^{[2] [3]}
• 22 January: Netherlands, Parliament ^[4]
• 28 January: Israel, Parliament ^{[5] [6]}

February

• 9 February:
  • Monaco, Parliament ^{[7] [8]}
  • Montenegro, President (second round) ^{[2] [9]}
• 16 February: Cyprus, President ^[10]
• 19 February: Armenia, President (first round) ^{[2] [11] [12]}

March

• 2 March: Estonia, Parliament ^{[2] [13]}
• 4 March: Micronesia, Parliament ^[2]
• 5 March:
  • Syria, Parliament ^[14]
  • Belize, Parliament ^[15]
  • Armenia, President ^[12]
• 8 March: Malta, Referendum ^{[16] [17]}
• 16 March:
  • Finland, Parliament ^{[18] [19]}
  • El Salvador, Parliament ^{[15] [20]}
• 30 March: Benin, Parliament ^[15]

April

• 12 April: Nigeria, Parliament ^[21]
• 13 April: Malta, Parliament ^{[22] [23]}
• 14 April Somaliland, President ^{[24] [25]}
• 19 April: Nigeria, President ^[21]
• 27 April:
  • Yemen, Parliament ^{[15] [26]}
  • Argentina, President (Country-wide) and Chamber of Deputies (La Rioja and Santiago del Estero) ^[15]
  • Paraguay, President ^{[15] [27]}

May

• 9 May: Kiribati, Parliament
• 10 May: Iceland, Parliament ^[28]
• 11 May: Montenegro, President ^[15]
• 18 May: Belgium, Federal Parliament ^{[29] [30]}
• 21 May: Barbados, House of Assembly ^[31]
• 25 May: Armenia, Parliament ^[15]

June

• 1 June: Togo, President ^[32]
• 7-8 June: Poland, Referendum ^{[33] [34]}
• 13-14 June: Czech Republic, Referendum ^{[33] [35]}
• 17 June: Jordan, Parliament ^{[36] [37]}

July

• 4 July: Kiribati, President ^[38]
• 5 July: Kuwait, Parliament ^{[36] [39]}
• 6 July: Mexico, Parliament (Chamber of Deputies) ^[36]
• 27 July: Cambodia, Parliament ^[36]

August

• 3 August: North Korea, Parliament ^{[40] [41]}
• 24 August: Argentina, Chamber of Deputies (Buenos Aires City)
• 25 August: Rwanda, Parliament ^[36]
• 31 August: Argentina, Chamber of Deputies (Río Negro)

September

• 7 September: Argentina, Chamber of Deputies and Senate (Santa Fe)
• 14 September:
  • Argentina, Chamber of Deputies (Buenos Aires, Chaco, Jujuy and Santa Cruz)
  • Estonia, Referendum ^[42]
• 19-20 September: Swaziland, Parliament (first round)
• 28 September: Argentina, Chamber of Deputies (Misiones and Neuquén)
• 29 September-2 October: Rwanda, Parliament ^[43]

October

• 4 October: Oman, Parliament ^{[44] [45]}
• 5 October: Argentina, Chamber of Deputies (Córdoba and San Juan) and Senate (Córdoba)
• 15 October: Azerbaijan, President ^[43]
• 17 October: Maldives, President ^[46]
• 18-19 October: Swaziland, Parliament (second round)
• 19 October: Argentina, Chamber of Deputies (Formosa)
• 19 October: Åland, Parliament
• 26 October: Argentina, Chamber of Deputies and Senate (Catamarca, La Pampa, Mendoza and Tucumán)

November

• 2 November:
  • Georgia, Parliament ^[43]
  • Georgia, Referendum
• 7 November: Mauritania, President ^{[47] [48]}
• 9 November:
  • Argentina, Chamber of Deputies and Senate (Chubut)
  • Japan, Parliament ^[49]
  • Guatemala, President (first round) ^[43]
• 16 November:
  • Argentina, Chamber of Deputies (Salta)
  • Serbia, President ^[43]
• 17 November: Marshall Islands, Parliament
• 23 November:
  • Argentina, Chamber of Deputies (Corrientes, Entre Ríos, San Luis and Tierra del Fuego) and Senate (Corrientes)
  • Croatia, Parliament ^{[43] [50]}
• 27 November:
  • Grenada, Parliament ^[43]
  • Gibraltar, Parliament ^{[51] [52]}

December

• 7 December: Russia, Parliament ^{[53] [54] [55]}
• 15 December: Northern Cyprus, Parliament ^[56]
• 21 December: Guinea, President ^{[57] [55]}
• 28 December:
  • Serbia, Parliament ^[55]
  • Guatemala, President (second round) ^[55]

References

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5. "About the 2003 Elections". Israel Democracy Institute . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
6. Bennet, James (29 January 2003). "Israeli Voters Hand Sharon Strong Victory" . The New York Times . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
7. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos Publishing House. p. 1357. ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7.
8. Manzella, Andrea (14 April 2004). The Principality of Monaco’s application for membership of the Council of Europe (Report). European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. Doc. 10138. Retrieved 30 November 2025– via Council of Europe. ...the National Council elected at the 9 February 2003 parliamentary elections
9. "Montenegro poll fails". BBC News . 9 February 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
10. Tocci, Nathalie (Summer–Fall 2003). "Towards Peace in Cyprus: Incentives and Disincentives". Brown Journal of World Affairs . 10 (1): 206. ISSN   1080-0786. JSTOR   24590603 . Retrieved 30 November 2025– via JSTOR. Yet Clerides lost the elections on the first round to DIKO-AKEL backed candidate Tassos Papadopoulous on 16 February 2003.
11. Arnold, Chloe (19 February 2003). "Democratic test for Armenia". BBC News . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
12. Republic of Armenia Presidential Election 19 February and 5 March 2003 (PDF) (Report). Warsaw: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. 28 April 2003. p. 1. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
13. Deloy, Corinne; Levy, Helen (2 March 2003). "General elections in Estonia 2nd March 2003". Robert-Schuman Foundation  [ fr ]. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
14. Turner, Barry (7 February 2017) [2006]. "Jumhuriya al-Arabya as-Suriya (Syrian Arab Republic)". The Statesman's Yearbook . Palgrave Macmillan. p. 1565. doi:10.1057/9780230271340_277. ISBN   978-0-230-27134-0. ISSN   0081-4601 – via Springer Nature Link. Elections were held on 5 March 2003. The ruling National Progressive Front (led by the Ba'ath Party) won 167 of 250 seats and non-partisan candidates the remaining. Turn-out was 63%.
15. "Election Watch: Election Results (March-June 2003)". Journal of Democracy . 14 (3). Johns Hopkins University Press: 181–183. July 2003. eISSN   1086-3214 . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
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19. Pesonen, Pertti (24 September 2004). "Dangerous Curves in Finnish Politics: A Sweet Victory and a Sour Honeymoon". Tidsskrift for samfunnsforskning  [ no ]. 45 (2). Scandinavian University Press: 273. doi:10.18261/ISSN1504-291X-2004-02-08.
20. "United Nations General Assembly Fifty-eighth session". United Nations . 4 November 2003. p. 20. Retrieved 30 November 2025. On 16 March 2003, municipal and legislative elections were held in El Salvador...
21. Nigeria: European Union Election Observation Mission - Final Report (PDF) (Report). European Union. 2003. pp. 2, 5. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
22. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos Publishing House. p. 1302. ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7.
23. Cini, Michelle (25 Jan 2007) [2004]. "Culture, Institutions and Campaign Effects: Explaining the Outcome of Malta's EU Accession Referendum". West European Politics . 27 (4): 599. doi:10.1080/0140238042000249911 . Retrieved 30 November 2025– via Taylor & Francis. The election was called the day after the referendum result was announced. It took place on 12April 2003.
24. "Voting underway in Somaliland's presidential poll". The New Humanitarian . 14 April 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
25. Duhul, Salad F. (14 April 2003). "In Somaliland Voters Go to the Polls Today". Arab News . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
26. "Polls close in Yemen". BBC News . 27 April 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
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28. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos. p. 962. ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7.
29. Osborn, Andrew (17 May 2003). "Far right poised for big Belgian poll gains". The Guardian . Retrieved 30 November 2025. The Belgian anti-immigration party Vlaams Blok is forecast to achieve its best result in 25 years in the general election tomorrow...
30. Swyngedouw, Marc (September 2004) [18 May 2004]. "The general election in Belgium, May 2003". Electoral Studies . 23 (3). doi:10.1016/S0261-3794(03)00104-5. ISSN   0261-3794. The general election in Belgium, 18 May 2003, to elect members of the Chamber of Representatives and the directly elected seats in the Senate...
31. Nohlen, Dieter (2005). Elections in the Americas: A data handbook. Vol. 1. p. 90. ISBN   978-0-19-928357-6.
32. "Togo: An election tainted by escalating violence" (PDF) (Press release). Amnesty International. 6 June 2003. p. 2. Retrieved 30 November 2025. The presidential election that took place in Togo on 1 June 2003...
33. "Poland and Czech Republic confirm referendum dates". Euractiv . 29 April 2003. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
34. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos. p. 1491. ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7.
35. "Tschechien, 14. Juni 2003 : Beitritt zur Europäischen Union" [Czech Republic, 14 June 2003: Accession to the European Union]. Database and Search Engine for Direct Democracy (in Czech). 20 June 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
36. "Election Watch: Election Results (June-September 2003)". Journal of Democracy . 14 (4). Johns Hopkins University Press: 181–182. October 2003. eISSN   1086-3214 . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
37. Alianak, Sonia L. (30 July 2014). "Reforming the Jordanian monarchy". The Transition Towards Revolution and Reform: The Arab Spring Realised?. Edinburgh University Press. p. 141. doi:10.3366/edinburgh/9780748692712.003.0005. ISBN   9781474406079 . Retrieved 30 November 2025– via Oxford Academic. Like his father, King Abdullah II encouraged participation, around four years after his accession to the throne, in his first parliamentary elections, to be held on 17 June 2003.
38. "New Kiribati president to be chosen today". Radio New Zealand . 4 July 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
39. Balali, Mehrdad (5 July 2003). "Candidates Hold Last Rallies on Eve of Voting in Kuwait". Arab News . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
40. "DPRK Holds Election of Local and National Assemblies". Choson Sinbo . 2003. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
41. "Democratic People's Republic of Korea Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui (Supreme People's Assembly) - elections held in 2003". Inter-Parliamentary Union . 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
42. "Rahvahääletus" [Referendum]. National Electoral Commission  [ et ] (in Estonian). 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
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44. "Women Pin High Hopes on Oman Council Election". Arab News . Agence France-Presse. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
45. "Oman slowly opens up". Le Monde diplomatique . 9 March 2004. Retrieved 30 November 2025. The Omani people elected the sultanate's consultative assembly (majlis al shura) on 4 October 2003.
46. Nuttin, Xavier; Vuylsteke, Virginie; Schulz, Stefan (24 May 2006). Note on The Maldives (PDF) (Report). EU Directorate-General for External Policies . Retrieved 30 November 2025. The President is elected for a five-year term. Presidential elections were last held on 17 October 2003.
47. "Mauritania poll 'marred by fraud'". BBC News . 7 November 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
48. Pannella, Marco; Turco, Maurizio; Cappato, Marco; Dell'Alba, Gianfranco; Della Vedova, Benedetto; Dupuis, Olivier (12 April 2003). "Attacks on democracy in Mauritania". European Parliament . E-3842/03. Retrieved 30 November 2025. On 7 November 2003, presidential elections were held in Mauritania.
49. Schaap, Ross D. (22 October 2004) [March 2005]. "The House of Representatives' election in Japan, November 2003". Electoral Studies . 24 (1). doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2004.07.006 . Retrieved 30 November 2025. On 9 November 2003 Japan held the 43rd election for its House of Representatives (HR).
50. "Voting underway in Croatian general election". The Irish Times . 23 November 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
51. General Election: Election to the House of Assembly - Thursday 27th November 2003 - Result of Poll (PDF) (Report). Parliament of Gibraltar. 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
52. "Caruana wins Gibraltar third term". BBC News . 28 November 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025. Mr Caruana's Social Democratic Party won 51% of the vote in Thursday's general election, 12% more than its main rival, the Socialist Labour Party.
53. Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos. p. 1642. ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7.
54. "Russian Federation Parliamentary Chamber: Gossoudarstvennaya Duma - Elections held in 2003". Inter-Parliamentary Union . 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
55. "Election Watch: Election Results (December 2003-March 2004)". Journal of Democracy . 15 (2). Johns Hopkins University Press: 177–179. April 2004. eISSN   1086-3214 . Retrieved 30 November 2025.
56. Soguk, Handan; Levy, Helen (14 December 2003). "The general elections in Republic of northern Cyprus * 14th december 2003". Robert-Schuman Foundation  [ fr ]. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
57. "Presidential elections set for 21 December". The New Humanitarian . 22 October 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.