1984 Nicaraguan general election

1984 Nicaraguan general election
	Presidential election
Turnout	75.42%
	Results by department
President before election; Daniel Ortega; FSLN	Elected President ; Daniel Ortega; FSLN
	Parliamentary election
	90 of 96 seats in the National Assembly; 46 seats needed for a majority
	Carlos Núñez; FSLN

General elections were held in Nicaragua on 4 November 1984, to elect a president and parliament. Approximately 1.2 million Nicaraguans voted,^[1] representing a 75% turnout, with 94% of eligible voters registered.^[2] Impartial observers from international groupings such as the European Economic Community, religious groups sent to monitor the election, and observers from democratic nations such as Canada and Ireland concluded that the elections were generally free and fair.^[3]^[4]

The election date, 4 November was selected so that Nicaragua would have a legitimate, elected government in place before the anticipated reelection of U.S. president Ronald Reagan on 6 November. "The Sandinistas hoped that a competitive election with heavy turnout would deter a U.S. military intervention and reassure the FSLN's defenders. So the Sandinistas' decision to hold elections in 1984 was largely of foreign inspiration".^[5]

Between 1982 and 1984 the FSLN negotiated with the opposition on the proposed Political Parties Law and Electoral Law, and ultimately these were modified "in response to several of the opposition's most significant demands."^[6] Similarly, multiple extensions of the deadline for candidate registration were granted whilst talks with the Coordinadora continued.^[7]

^ Williams, Philip J. "Elections and democratization in Nicaragua: the 1990 elections in perspective." Journal of Interamerican Studies 32, 4:13-34 (winter 1990). p15
^ Cite error: The named reference W19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "1984: Sandinistas claim election victory" BBC News, November 5, 1984
^ "NICARAGUAN VOTE: 'FREE, FAIR, HOTLY CONTESTED'" The New York Times
^ Cornelius, Wayne A. "The Nicaraguan elections of 1984: a reassessment of their domestic and international significance." Drake, Paul W. and Eduardo Silva. 1986. Elections and democratization in Latin America, 1980-85. La Jolla: Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies, Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, Institute of the Americas, University of California, San Diego. Pp. 62.
^ Williams (1990:17-18)
^ Williams (1990:18)

[1] Williams, Philip J. "Elections and democratization in Nicaragua: the 1990 elections in perspective." Journal of Interamerican Studies 32, 4:13-34 (winter 1990). p15

[W19-2] Cite error: The named reference W19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[3] "1984: Sandinistas claim election victory" BBC News, November 5, 1984

[4] "NICARAGUAN VOTE: 'FREE, FAIR, HOTLY CONTESTED'" The New York Times

[5] Cornelius, Wayne A. "The Nicaraguan elections of 1984: a reassessment of their domestic and international significance." Drake, Paul W. and Eduardo Silva. 1986. Elections and democratization in Latin America, 1980-85. La Jolla: Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies, Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, Institute of the Americas, University of California, San Diego. Pp. 62.

[6] Williams (1990:17-18)

[7] Williams (1990:18)

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