Costa Rica elects a president (who is the head of state), two vice-presidents and a legislature. The President of Costa Rica and the vice-presidents are elected for a four-year term by the people. The Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) has 57 members, elected for four-year terms by closed list proportional representation in each of the country's seven provinces. Voting is mandatory for registered citizens under Article 93 of the Constitution of Costa Rica, but this is not enforced.

Prior to the 1913 election, elections in Costa Rica were indirect. Secret ballots were introduced in 1926 and fully implemented by 1953.