On Monday, the President of Algeria's Independent National Electoral Authority (ANIE), Mohamed Charfi, announced the preliminary results of the referendum on constitutional amendments. The referendum saw a total of 5,636,172 voters participate, with a turnout of 23.72%. This rate was achieved despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 61,108 polling stations and 13,236 voting centers were set up across the country to facilitate the voting process.
The number of registered voters in Algeria was 24,475,310, with 23,568,012 residing in Algeria and 907,298 living abroad. Of the total voters, 45,071 were residents abroad, who faced restrictions on movement due to the pandemic. Charfi attributed the low turnout of 4.9% among Algerian expatriates to these restrictions. Despite this, he described the turnout as "honorable" and reflective of the engagement of Algerian expatriates in the democratic process.
The referendum results showed that 3,355,518 voters, or 66.80%, supported the constitutional amendments, while 1,676,867, or 33.20%, voted against them. A total of 633,885 ballots were declared null, and 407 votes were disputed. Charfi emphasized that the turnout did not pose any problems from a legal or constitutional perspective, as Algerian legislation does not specify a threshold for validating or annulling a referendum.
Charfi also highlighted the transparency of the electoral process, stating that the ANIE publishes results by province, regardless of the turnout. He noted that the turnout in southern provinces was similar to that in previous elections, which he saw as a positive sign for democracy. The ANIE had mobilized 386,422 agents and 747 volunteer observers to monitor the voting process.
During the referendum campaign, various stakeholders, including civil society representatives, political parties, national personalities, and government members, participated in 965 meetings and 137 proximity activities, 220 meetings and 33 proximity activities, 48 meetings and 10 proximity activities, and 57 meetings and 12 proximity activities, respectively. Charfi also mentioned that there were two reported incidents of irregularities during the voting process in Mascara and El-Bayadh.
Looking ahead, Charfi indicated that the use of electronic voting was a possibility but would need to be implemented gradually and with guarantees of transparency. The ANIE is committed to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. The referendum results will now be submitted to the Constitutional Council for review and validation.
The referendum on constitutional amendments marks an important step in Algeria's democratic journey. The outcome will have implications for the country's governance and institutional framework. Key stakeholders, including civil society and political parties, have been actively engaged in the process, reflecting a broad commitment to democratic principles.
Key points
- Algerians voted on constitutional amendments with a turnout of 23.72%.
- The referendum results showed 66.80% support for the amendments.
- The electoral process was marked by transparency and engagement from various stakeholders.
