2012 Libyan local elections

Local elections were held in Zuwarah in 2011^[1] and in several other municipalities in Libya during 2012.

Zuwarah

Zuwarah residents elected their local council in 2011, following the 2011 Libyan Civil War.^[1]

Benghazi

Municipal elections were held in Benghazi on 19 May.^[2] More than 200,000 people registered to vote in Benghazi, and 414 candidates stood for election for the 41 free seats in the 44-member City Council.^[3] These are the first elections of their kind in Benghazi since the 1960s.^[4] Given the large number of candidates, there has been not very much time for them to campaign and present their views to the people of the 11 Districts of Benghazi.^[5]

According to the head of Benghazi's electoral commission, Suleiman Zubi, a total of 138,312 people voted in the election, with turnout between 64% and 69%.^[2] Despite 22 female candidates standing for election, only one female, Najat Rashid Mansur Al-Kikhia, was elected to the council.^[2] Al-Kikhia did however receive the most votes of any individual candidate.^[2]

Misrata

Municipal elections were held in Misrata on 20 February.^[6] The elections to the 28-member City Council were one of the first held after the fall of the Gaddafi regime.^[6] Only one member of the existing council stood for re-election.^[6]

Of the 156,000 eligible voters, 101,486 people were registered to vote,^[7] with a turnout of 57% being given by officials.^[8] All of the elected councilors were independents, with Yousef Ben Yousef being elected as the new mayor of Misrata, and 5 other councilors joining the council's executive.^[9]

Sabratha

Municipal elections were held in Sabratha on 7 October.^[10] Deya-Uddin Al-Gharabli was elected as the Council Chairman.^[10] There was not a high turnout for the election.^[10]