---
titulo: "Electoral Circuits of Panama: How Deputies Are Elected"
titulo_seo: "Panama's 39 Electoral Circuits: How They Work"
meta: "Law 299 of 2022 redrew Panama into 39 electoral circuits, 26 single-member and 13 multi-member. How deputies are elected and how the codes are numbered."
autor: "Diego Ospina Serna"
fecha: 2026-07-07
actualizado: 2026-07-07
materia: "Electoral Law"
idioma: "en"
par: "circuitos-electorales-de-panama"
resumen: "A guide to Panama's electoral circuits: the difference between single-member and multi-member circuits, the reconfiguration of 39 circuits for the 2024 elections (Law 299 of 2022), how they are numbered by province, and the role of the Electoral Tribunal."
tags: ["Electoral Tribunal", "Electoral Circuits"]
orden: 20260707
faq:
  - q: "How many electoral circuits are there?"
    a: "39 for the 2024 election (26 single-member and 13 multi-member), under Law 299 of 2022."
  - q: "What's the difference between single-member and multi-member?"
    a: "Single-member elects one deputy by majority; multi-member elects several by proportional representation."
  - q: "Why do the circuits change?"
    a: "Because their magnitude is adjusted to population per the census, to keep representation proportional."
fuentes:
  - nombre: "Electoral Code"
  - nombre: "Law 299 of 2022"
  - nombre: "Electoral Tribunal of Panama"
    url: "https://iurispa.com/instituciones/tribunal-electoral/"
---

Panama's **deputies to the National Assembly** are elected by **electoral circuits**, a territorial division that sets how many seats are contested in each area and under what system. Understanding this organization is key to understanding the country's political representation. This guide explains it with the current figures.

> Informational guide. The electoral organization is run by the **Electoral Tribunal**, an autonomous body of constitutional rank.

## Single-member and multi-member circuits

Electoral circuits are of two kinds:

- **Single-member:** elect **one deputy**, by majority. They correspond to less populated areas.
- **Multi-member:** elect **two or more deputies** by proportional representation. They correspond to more populated areas.

## Current figures (2024 elections)

The distribution of circuits for the May 5, 2024 general election was set by **Law 299 of May 5, 2022**:

- **39 electoral circuits** in total: **26 single-member** and **13 multi-member**.
- Each circuit is identified by a **province-circuit** code; for example, **8-10** is the province of Panama, circuit 10.
- The magnitude of each circuit (how many seats it elects) is adjusted according to the latest **National Census**, hence the periodic reconfigurations.

## The 2024 reconfiguration

Law 299 of 2022 introduced concrete changes from the prior election:

- **Three circuits gained a deputy:** 8-10 (to 5) and 8-1 and 8-5 (to 4 each).
- **Three circuits lost a deputy:** 8-6 (from 7 to 6) and 8-7 and 8-8 (from 5 to 4).
- **Panamá Oeste**, upon becoming a province, renumbered its four circuits from the "8" prefix (Panama) to **province 13**: 13-1 (Arraiján), 13-2 (Capira), 13-3 (Chame and San Carlos) and 13-4 (La Chorrera).

## The role of the Electoral Tribunal

The **Electoral Tribunal** organizes, directs and oversees the process: it runs the Civil Registry and the electoral register, defines and updates the electoral geography, and proclaims those elected. The **Electoral Prosecutor's Office** pursues electoral offenses. The periodic review of circuits (so that each citizen's vote carries comparable weight) is part of its function.

---
**Relacionado:** [[judicial-circuits-of-panama|Judicial circuits of Panama: districts, circuits and competence]]