Over 215,000 Voters Registered in Galmudug as Somalia Advances One-Person, One-Vote Elections

GOOBJOOG NEWS|DHUSAMAREB: National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has announced that 215,860 eligible voters have been registered in Galmudug State, marking another milestone in the country’s ongoing voter registration exercise ahead of planned one-person, one-vote elections.

According to figures released by the commission, 117,305 of those registered are men, while 98,555 are women. The commission also reported that 1,633 persons with disabilities were successfully enrolled during the registration process.

Regionally, Mudug recorded the highest number of registered voters with 116,590 people, followed by Galgaduud, where 99,270 voters were registered.

The voter registration drive forms part of Somalia’s broader efforts to transition from the country’s long-standing indirect electoral system—where leaders are chosen through clan-based delegates—to universal suffrage, allowing citizens to directly elect their representatives.

The federal government has described the registration exercise as a critical step toward delivering credible and inclusive elections. However, the transition to one-person, one-vote elections has remained politically contentious, with some opposition groups and several federal member states expressing concerns over the electoral roadmap and the level of political consensus surrounding the process.

Despite those challenges, the National Independent Electoral Commission says it remains committed to expanding voter registration across the country as preparations continue for future direct elections.