Municipal elections in the Democratic Autonomous Administration Region of North and East Syria were held for the first time in 2015. As a result of these elections, municipal councils were formed, and co-mayors were elected. In 2017, commune and city council elections were held, and co-mayors were elected according to the representation of the councils. Thus, municipal work began and continued within the revolution.

The Union of Democratic Municipalities of North and East Syria bases itself on the understanding of self-government and democratic politics. The Autonomous Administration provides services to the people through 122 municipalities, including 5 in Afrin-Shehba, 9 in Tabqa, 16 in Raqqa, 11 in Euphrates, 57 in Cizîr, 6 in Manbij and 18 in Deir ez-Zor.

133 municipalities

The number of municipalities determined in 7 cantons in the elections to be held on 11 June is as follows: Tabqa Canton (9), Afiîn-Shehba Canton (5), Deir ez-Zor Canton (18), Euphrates Canton (16), Raqqa Canton (12), Manbij Canton (6) and Cizre Canton (67).

The High Election Commissioner’s Office in North and East Syria held its first meeting on 28 March and announced that the municipal elections in the region would be held on 30 May, and then announced that it was postponed to 11 June.

Kongra Star and Zenobiya Women's Community candidates for the municipal elections were selected by women in a primary election. On 20 May, 22 parties and organisations, including Kongra Star, Syriac Union Party, Zenobiya Women's Community, Armenian Assembly, Democratic Union Party (PYD), Democratic Assyrian Party, Future of Syria Party, Syrian Union of Yazidis, announced the formation of the Alliance of Women and Peoples for Freedom (Tifaqa Gelan û Jinan ji bo Azadiyê).

Since 28 March, preparations for the municipal elections in North and East Syria have been in full swing.  While the Alliance of Women and Peoples for Freedom is the largest alliance, the ‘All Together for Better Service Alliance’ consists of the Democratic Green Party, Kurdistan Contemporary Movement, Kurdistan Brotherhood Party (PBK), Syrian Kurdish Democratic Left Party and Kurdistan Union of Labourers.  The parties that will enter the elections under their own names are as follows: Syrian National Democratic Alliance Party, National Development and Democratic Change Party, Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party.

Voter cards

With the establishment of election commissions, election cards have started to be distributed to citizens who will vote in the election. According to the electoral law, the names of neighbourhood residents are registered and election cards are issued.

Rûken Mele Îbrahîm, Co-Chair of the High Election Commissioner’s Office in the Democratic Autonomous Administration Region of North and East Syria, spoke to ANF about the municipal elections in North and East Syria to be held on 11 June.

A first in North and East Syria

Noting that such an election will be held for the first time in North and East Syria, Rûken Mele Îbrahîm said, “Election commissions affiliated to the High Election Commissioner’s Office (established on 28 February) were established in 7 cantons in North and East Syria. These committees, in turn, established election commissions in towns and cities. Canton, town and city election commissions were established periodically. After the elections, these commissions will be abolished. Only the High Election Commissioner’s Office will continue its activities.”

Electoral commissions will play the role of application centres

Rûken Mele Îbrahîm explained the reasons for the opening of town and city election commissions in 7 cantons as follows: “Electoral commissions opened in towns and cities play the role of application centres for independents, alliances and parties who want to run for municipal elections. The town and city election commissions, which also prepare the election cards that the communes will deliver to the people, will determine the places where the ballot boxes will be set up according to the number, and the number of ballot boxes will be calculated. After this determination, ballot box attendants will be determined from 3 to 4 people.”

Women chose their own candidates

Drawing attention to the primaries, Rûken Mele Îbrahîm said, “Since the election date was set, primaries have taken place. Women have determined their own candidates. They have the right to be a candidate regardless of which community they are from. An equal quota of fifty percent was determined between the two sexes.”

Right to object to nominations for 2 days

Rûken Mele Îbrahîm stated that the 2-day objection process will begin after the announcement of the nominations by the High Election Commissioner's Office. “The validity of the objections will be considered transparently. Objections will not be accepted unless they are within the law. With the completion of the objection phase, the High Election Commissioner’s Office will announce the names of the candidates again.”

A transparent election

Rûken Mele Îbrahîm stated that the candidates will start the process of introducing themselves after their announcement by the High Election Commissioner's Office, which will determine the procedure during this process. She noted: “The process of introducing candidates will be completed at 18:00 the day before the elections. We have the right to intervene in the candidature of candidates, independents, alliances and political parties that exceed the specified time. It will be clarified which candidate will be able to present themselves where.”

Rûken Mele Îbrahîm said that the elections will start at 08:00 on 11 June with the presence of polling station staff and observers, adding: ‘A person without a voting card will not be able to vote. Voting on behalf of another person will not be considered valid and the counting process will start after the closing of the ballot boxes. The counting will take place in the presence of 3 polling station attendants and observers of political parties. There will be two ballot papers for the election of co-mayors and municipal council members. If a person fails to vote only once on the two ballot papers with the names of the co-mayor and council members, that ballot paper will be invalid. Once the elections are over, the wet-signed result certificates will be sent to the election commissions in the 7 cantons, subject to the approval of the municipal and city election commissions. The election results will be submitted to the High Election Commissioner’s Office in North and East Syria with the approval of the election commissions established in the cantons.” Îbrahîm called everyone to go to the polls on election day.