A technical committee appointed at the end of Dhusamareb II talks has recommended four electoral models to be used in Somalia’s upcoming polls.
The committee, set up through the joint efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States, hopes that it has solved one of the most pressing issues in the country.
For several months now, the country has been caught up in an intense debate regarding the best electoral model to use.
Many voters around the country had been preparing for the universal suffrage model, which is also known as one-person-one-vote system.
Details on the proposed models remain scanty.
Nevertheless, it is understood that the first model suggested is indirect elections through 1,000 delegates up from the 101 who have been in place for decades.
Secondly, the committee suggested carrying out a hybrid system comprising direct and indirect elections in some constituencies.
This hybrid system would require the registration of roughly one million voters by July 2021.
A biometric registration targeting around 3 million voters has been cited too, and it would take 13 months to put in place as the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) explained.
Insiders indicate that the committee recommended a personal and voter registration for the polls. Such a system requires 4 million voters and 9-12 months to prepare.
Officials mentioned that the technical committee would discuss all these options before settling on the best.
Electoral model is one of the biggest barriers standing in the country’s path to holding democratic elections on time.