Soldiers, civil servants seeking Lower House seat for Somaliland must resign 7 days to vote

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Public servants and members of the security forces who intend to vie for a seat in the upcoming Somaliland Lower House elections must resign at least seven days before elections day, new guidelines released today state.

Somaliland caucus leaders-Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Guled and Senate speaker Abdi Hashi set out the conditions in a document released today. According to the conditions, a candidate must also be 25 years and above and must hail from Somaliland. He or she must also have not been jailed or deprived of citizenship in the last five years.

Further, the terms note, candidates or are neither members of the executive or the outgoing parliament must present a clearance certificate from the police. The 30% must be observed in the composition of the 101 delegates (for each seat) and the election of MPs.

At least two-thirds of delegates (75+1) must be present for voting to commence, the guidelines indicate while winning candidates will have to secure 50+1 of the votes cast. In an instance where there are more than two candidates, the winning candidates must secure two-thirds of the vote, failure to which the vote goes into the second round where the two candidates with the most votes will battle out. The winner will need 50%+1 of the votes.

Delegates can participate in the election of more than one candidate when circumstances compel while a show of hands method can be used in the case of one candidate in the race. That candidate must however get 50% +1 votes to be declared the winner.

Somaliland clans have 61 seats in the Lower House.