The US Charge d’Affaires to Libya, Jeremy Berndt, emphasized the significance of the upcoming municipal elections as a key opportunity for Libyans to select their local leaders and enhance accountable governance across the country.
Berndt shared these remarks on Sunday via a post on the platform “X,” following what he described as a “productive” meeting with Dr. Emad Al-Sayeh, the Chairman of Libya’s High National Elections Commission (HNEC).
During their discussion, Berndt and Al-Sayeh explored ways to strengthen U.S. technical support to the HNEC and reviewed the progress made in preparing for the municipal elections.
The candidate registration process for the first group of municipal elections commenced on Sunday. The HNEC has provided a link on its website to verify the endorsements of those interested in running. The number of registered voters for the first phase of the elections has reached 210,545.
The HNEC noted that the registration numbers exceeded expectations given the population of the 60 municipalities where the first phase will take place. The elections are set to be held in 17 municipalities in the southern region, 31 in the western region, and 12 in the eastern region.
The HNEC has outlined a three-step process for distributing voter cards. First, voters must visit the polling centre where they registered, bringing proof of identity, such as a passport, family booklet, or ID card. The second step involves presenting this identification to the verification officer. Finally, voters receive their voter card after signing the receipt register. The country has established 14,140 polling centres for this purpose.
