Elections in Somalia

Somalia's electoral system covers federal elections, Federal Member States, SSC-Khaatumo, Gobolka Banaadir and district or local elections. The current framework replaces the earlier indirect clan- and 4.5-delegate model with Qof iyo Cod, usually described as one person, one vote. The transition has not yet produced a completed national federal election under the new system, and no fixed federal election date was identified in the consulted official sources. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, commonly called NIEBC and also referred to as GMDQS, is the constitutionally independent election and boundaries authority. Law No. 26 of 21 November 2024 gives it responsibility for voter registration, electoral boundaries, election organization, party supervision, public information, counting, preliminary and official results, and electoral complaints. Its members serve six-year terms and report to the Federal Parliament. The Federal Parliament legislates and oversees the process, while the Supreme Court gives final decisions in election disputes. The Ministry of Interior provides political and administrative coordination. Federal Member States, SSC-Khaatumo, Banadir and local administrations assist with implementation, and security forces protect polling locations. The rules differ by office. The president is chosen by registered voters on one ballot from candidates of three national parties under a plurality system. The Golaha Shacabka has 275 directly elected seats using open lists and proportional allocation intended to balance votes and seats. The Aqalka Sare has 54 seats plus Banadir representation and is directly elected by registered voters in each Federal Member State or SSC-Khaatumo, with proportional allocation and participation by three national parties. Federal Member State and SSC-Khaatumo leaders and their deputies are directly elected by plurality from three parties. Federal Member State assemblies, SSC-Khaatumo assemblies, the Golaha Caasimadda and district councils use closed lists with proportional allocation. District mayors, deputy mayors and the Mogadishu mayor and deputy mayor are directly elected by plurality. Northern areas, Somaliland-related arrangements and minority seats may follow special open-list or first-past-the-post rules. Candidate lists must observe a 30% quota for women and statutory requirements concerning social and clan balance. A voter must be a Somali citizen and at least 18 years old when registering. The law excludes foreigners, people legally found unable to exercise responsibility, convicted or imprisoned criminal detainees, people finally convicted of an election offence within the previous five years and people whose voting rights a court has suspended. Registration is free and uses a unique biometric voter identification system. A voter may register once, vote once and vote only at the polling location linked to the registration. NIEBC lists a National ID, birth record or high-school certificate as possible registration documents. The voter receives a voter card. A replacement card for loss or damage requires a fee and must be requested at least 30 days before election day. After registration closes, NIEBC must publish a provisional voter roll within two months at most. It prepares the final roll after review and sends it to the Ministry of Interior and political parties at least 30 days before the election. A seven-member committee handles registration complaints and must decide them within seven days at most. Voter data must remain confidential and be stored inside Somalia. Candidates must already be registered voters. Federal parliamentary candidates must be at least 25, have completed school or possess equivalent experience, and have no final criminal conviction from the previous five years. People holding relevant state, security, judicial or independent public offices must resign six months before standing for election. Parties or political associations, called Urur Siyaasadeed, nominate candidates and pay the applicable candidacy fee. Candidate lists are submitted 120 working days before the election. Campaigning lasts 45 days and ends 48 hours before polling, with equal campaign time. Accredited party agents, observers and media may be present. NIEBC determines polling centers, locations and opening times. Officials check the voter card, identity and whether the person has already voted, then issue a stamped ballot. The voter marks it in a secret booth. Officials may assist voters who need help, and indelible ink supports the voting control. The presiding officer maintains order inside the polling place. Security personnel remain outside unless the officer requests entry. The absence of a party agent does not stop polling. A ballot is invalid when it has no mark, an incorrect or multiple mark, or a mark outside the designated field. Counting begins publicly at the polling place in the presence of party agents. Officials open the ballot box, read each vote aloud, complete forms and trace records, separate disputed ballots and display the result. Counting should finish within 24 hours. NIEBC and security personnel transport the materials with party-agent oversight. State or SSC-Khaatumo authorities check and aggregate results before sending them to the central level. After verification, NIEBC announces the official result within 24 hours at most. Voters and parties may challenge voting rights, candidacies, election operations or results. Complaints must generally be filed within seven days after the result, and the Supreme Court must decide within 14 days; its decision is final. Seat allocation considers party and candidate votes together with representation and clan-balance requirements. A vacant list seat is filled from the reserve list. Government formation follows a post-election coalition or majority process under the 2026 Constitution, although detailed alignment between the Constitution, Electoral Law and practice is still developing. Implementation has differed across Somalia. NIEBC registered voters in Banadir, Galmudug, Hirshabelle and South West in 2025, and Banadir held a direct local poll that year. On 10 May 2026, South West held combined local and state-representative elections in 13 districts under Qof iyo Cod, with results officially announced. The 2026 regional rollout has been staggered: the Supreme Court annulled a Galmudug result and ordered a rerun, while the Hirshabelle schedule was revised. Participation in Puntland, Jubbaland and other territories depends on federal-state agreements, security and effective NIEBC access. Armed-group control, displacement, weak administrative reach, boundary disputes, party and regional competition, and the inclusion of women, young people and minorities can materially affect where and how elections take place.