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– Election period: June/July 2024
19 January 2024 Update: In Mauritania, the 24 June 2024 presidential elections is likely to proceed without challenge to the incumbent president, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. El Ghazouani is benefiting from a record of ambitious reforms in several areas, but he also taking advantage of a non-existent opposition that is totally absent,with the notable exception being the anti-slavery movements, the only one to still carry progressive values, fighting against slavery, which still exists in Mauritania despite banning it 15 years ago.
Elections in Mauritania encompass four different types: presidential elections, parliamentary elections, elections and local elections.
This article only lists elections held after the introduction of multi-party politics with the , introduced after . During the elections that were not up to democratic standards were held under a , while elections weren't held during after Mauritania's participation in the .
Mauritania has a presidential election every five years, in which a is elected in two rounds on the basis of a direct popular vote.
Parliamentary elections for the are held every five years with a parallel voting system combining several national lists and an vote, with a used for one-seat districts, a used for two-seat districts, with larger districts using the . Mauritania has a multi-party system with a holding an absolute majority supported by several minor parties (with this bloc being referred to as the "presidential majority"). Mauritania has a high number of , with a peak of 105 parties running in .
Regional and local elections are also held every five years (usually at the same time as parliamentary elections) to elect Mauritania's and local councils using a . The presidency of said councils is held by the leader of the largest list in the election.
Presidential elections
[]The president is elected by popular vote in a two-round system for a five-year term. The latest election was held on , marking Mauritania's first peaceful transfer of power in the presidency. () won the election in the first round, securing 52% of votes.
Parliamentary elections
[]Parliamentary elections are held to Mauritania's unicameral parliament, the . The National Assembly is elected through a parallel voting system combining several national lists and an vote, with a used for one-seat districts, a used for two-seat districts, with larger districts using the .
Senate elections
[]Mauritania's was bi-cameral between 1991 and 2017, with an indirectly elected upper house (the ) being abolished after a 2017 constitutional reform approved through a . The Senate's term lasted six years, with one-third of the senators being renewed in indirect elections every two years.
Regional elections
[]were created in Mauritania to replace the Senate abolished in 2017. Regional elections are held every five years (usually at the same time as parliamentary elections) using a . The presidency of the regional councils is held by the leader of the largest list in the election.
Local elections
[]Referendums
[]Election organization
[]All elections are prepared, organized and supervised by the (CENI), which:
- takes care of observing the principle of equal access for all competing candidates to the official organs of the written, audio and visual press, being allowed to direct any observation or recommendation to the competent authorities,
- participates in the media sector to educate citizens about the voting process,
- and takes the necessary measures to facilitate the tasks of the national observers and the invited international observers in consultation with the competent diplomatic departments of the State.