Mogadishu Polls in Numbers: Over 45% of Registered Voters Did Not Collect Voting Cards

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: As Mogadishu conducts its first local council elections in more than five decades, official figures reveal a significant gap between voter registration and actual eligibility to vote. Election authorities say 918,890 residents across the capital’s 16 districts registered for the polls.

However, only 503,916 voters collected their physical voting cards, making them eligible to cast ballots. This means that 414,974 registered voters — approximately 45.15 percent remain unable to vote after failing to complete the card collection process, highlighting a significant participation and logistical challenge in the election.

The disparity is particularly visible in Dayniile district, where 111,030 people registered but only 43,734 collected their voting cards, leaving more than 67,000 registered voters unable to participate.
The figures raise questions about voter follow-through, administrative efficiency, and the depth of public trust in local governance. While registration suggested strong initial interest, the sharp drop-off points to lingering apathy and structural challenges in translating sign-ups into actual participation.

Context matters. This is the first time in roughly 54 years that Mogadishu residents are voting in local council elections. For many Somalis, especially those over 50, it is their first experience with voting. Limited civic culture, weak confidence in local institutions, and logistical hurdles likely contributed to the turnout gap.

Despite these shortcomings, election observers caution against dismissing the exercise outright. As a first attempt at restoring direct local democracy in the capital, the vote provides a baseline for identifying gaps in voter education, outreach, and election management ahead of future national polls.
The challenge now is whether the institutions overseeing the process can turn this data into reforms that rebuild trust and ensure broader participation in the elections to come.