The Constitution of Haiti provides for the election of the President, Parliament, and members of local governing bodies.
The Transitional Presidential Council has been exercising the powers of the presidency since the resignation of Ariel Henry.
A second round was scheduled for 20 March 2011 with the two highest vote-getters, Mirlande Manigat and Jude Célestin.
Protests claiming fraudulent voting resulted in the electoral commission removing Célestin from the race.
This promoted Martelly from his original third-place finish in the first-round, to face Manigat in the run-off.