This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
On June 29, 2020, the Independent Electoral Commission of Somalia announced that the country's planned General Election for October 2020 is not feasible, and the earliest it can be held is March 2021.
This will be the first general election in 50 years in Somalia, a significant milestone for the country's democratic development.
Commission Chairlady Halima Ismael Ibrahim proposed two methods of conducting the election: registering voters on election day as they vote, or pre-registering voters on a roll before the election day.
The method of registering voters on election day is simpler and requires less time and resources, according to Ms. Yareey.
She explained that if this method is chosen, voters will be registered and recorded manually in registers as they come to cast their votes, a process that requires nine months' preparation from July 2020 to March 2021.
On the other hand, if the leaders opt for voter registration before elections, this mode will require at least 13 months' preparation from July 2020 to August 2021, including the purchase of required equipment and the guarantee of election poll security.
Ms. Yareey emphasized the importance of educating citizens on the electoral process and ensuring that all eligible citizens receive voter cards.
The MPs will now debate and vote for the most suitable election option between the proposed ones, or come up with an alternative method.
