THE LAW OF THE REFERENDUM ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOMALILAND
HAVING SEEN Article 125[1] of the Constitution, which relates to the preparation of the law of the Referendum on the Constitution;
HAVING SEEN Clauses[2] 1 and 2 of Article 130 of the Constitution, which relate to the holding of the Referendum on the Constitution;
HAVING DEBATED AND PERUSED the Government’s proposals on this law of the Referendum on the Constitution;
CONSIDERING that the end of the period[3] of the implementation of the Constitution, which was increased by Parliament is fast approaching;
PASSED THE FOLLOWING LAW
Chapter I
General Principles
Article 1: The Purpose of the Referendum
Every citizen shall cast his vote for or against the Constitution in the Referendum to which this law refers.
Article 2: The Right to Vote and its Exercise
1. Every citizen who fulfils the conditions set out in Article 6 shall be entitled to one vote, which he can cast at the district where he is[4].
2. Voting is personal, free, and direct; and all persons[5] are equal.
Article 3: The Polling Station
To make the conduct of the Referendum possible, it shall be based on the boundaries of the legally formed districts[6], which currently exist in the country, and each district shall be sub-divided into polling stations.
Article 4: The Administration of the Referendum
The Referendum shall be administered at:
1. The polling stations;
2. The District Referendum Office;
3. The Central Referendum Office.
The District Referendum Office shall be at the seat of the District, and the Central Referendum Office[7] shall be at the capital city, Hargeisa.
Article 5: The Date of the Referendum
The voting at the Referendum shall be conducted in one day only, the date of which will be set in a Presidential Decree to be issued in an official publication[8] within a maximum period of up to sixty days before the date of the Referendum.
Chapter II
Conditions for Participation in the Referendum
Article 6: The Right to Vote
Any one (male or female) who meets the following conditions shall have the right to vote in the Referendum:
1. He must be a citizen[9] who is a patrial descending from the persons who were resident in the Republic of Somaliland on 26 June 1960[10] or before.
2. He must not be aged less than 18 years.
3. He must not be certified as insane.
4. He must not be a prisoner serving a sentence passed by a court.
Article 7: The Identification of Persons who have the Right to Vote
The Polling Station officers shall reach decisions about the eligibility of individuals to vote expeditiously and in line with the provisions of this Law.
Chapter III
Polling Stations
Article 8: The Number and Location of Polling Stations
The National Referendum Committee[11] shall, after receiving the advice of the Chairmen of the Regions