Mogadishu Polls in Numbers: Over 46% 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 wide gap between voter registration and actual eligibility to vote.
Election authorities say 944,058 residents across the capital’s 16 districts registered for the polls.

However, only 511,812 people collected their physical voting cards and are able to cast ballots today. This means 432,246 registered voters, about 46 percent, are effectively excluded from the vote due to failure to complete the card collection process.

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, and 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.