Elections in Libya

On 7 July 2012, the National Transitional Council, in power since the Libyan Civil War, supervised democratic elections for a 200-member General National Congress to replace the Council. A process to write a constitution was also to be determined. Parliamentary elections were scheduled to be held on 25 June 2014 in a move aimed at stabilizing the country and quelling the unrest.

History

Kingdom of Libya

1952 Libyan general election
1956 Libyan general election
1960 Libyan general election
1964 Libyan general election
1965 Libyan general election

Libya under Gaddafi

National elections were indirect through a hierarchy of people's committees. The head of government was elected by the General People's Congress. The last such election was held in March 2009, for a three-years term.

Libya's parliament consisted of a unicameral General People's Congress. Its members were elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees.

Suffrage was 18 years of age; universal and technically compulsory.

Electoral bodies

According to Article 157 of the 2017 draft Libyan constitution, the Libyan High National Election Commission (HNEC) is responsible for organising elections of national political bodies in Libya.

National-level election rule disputes

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya were scheduled for 24 December 2021. These were indefinitely postponed by the High National Elections Commission, due to failure to agree on the electoral rules.

As of 2023, Libya had two competing governments, the Government of National Unity (GNU) sited in Tripoli and the Government of National Stability (GNS) in Sirte, formed in March 2022, and supported by the House of Representatives (HoR).

In November 2023, despite objections from members of the High Council of State and the reservations expressed by United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the House of Representatives ordered the official publication of election rules in the Official Gazette. The regulations were developed by the 6+6 Committee of the HoR and the HCS.

In late 2025, a citizens' assembly type process among a diverse group of 137 Libyans, called the Structured Dialogue, was launched, with aims including the development of proposals for electoral processes.

References

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CIA - The World Factbook: Libya