Hasakah enters electoral process through 10 seats chosen by electoral bodies, 5 by appointment

Since September 2025, Syria has been witnessing a gradual and indirect electoral process to select members of parliament as part of the post-Baath regime arrangements following its collapse in 2024. The Higher Elections Committee has begun issuing decisions and establishing the administrative structures necessary to conduct elections across the governorates.

The parliament consists of 210 seats, of which 140 are elected through local electoral bodies formed by a decision of the head of the interim government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, while the remaining 70 seats are directly appointed by him, according to official government statements.

So far, the process of selecting members of parliament has been completed in all Syrian governorates except for Hasakah and Sweida, where preparations are currently underway in Hasakah.

According to informed local sources, the Hasakah Governorate’s share amounts to 15 seats, five of which will be appointed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, while the remaining ten members will be elected indirectly, meaning that the electoral process itself will concern only ten seats.

In this context, the Higher Elections Committee issued the preliminary lists for the formation of subcommittees in Hasakah Governorate and its districts (Hasakah, Qamishlo, and Derik), in a step considered preparatory for moving to the stage of forming electoral bodies, placing the governorate on the verge of formally entering the electoral process in the coming period.

This sequence demonstrates that the current electoral system is based on a gradual structure that begins with the formation of subcommittees, followed by electoral bodies, and culminates in the election of parliament members within an administrative and organizational framework designed to regulate the process through clear procedural stages and timelines.

The adopted electoral system relies on a centralized, indirect, multi-stage mechanism that starts with forming subcommittees, proceeds through electoral bodies, and ends with the election of parliament members under gradual administrative supervision.

First: Formation of Subcommittees

Subcommittees constitute the first practical step in the electoral process and are formed by a decision of the Higher Elections Committee according to organizational standards that include administrative competence, integrity, legal or administrative experience, as well as balanced geographical and social representation within each electoral district.

These committees serve as the executive arm of the electoral process in the governorates and oversee all preparatory stages.

Their responsibilities include supervising organizational procedures, receiving applications for membership in the electoral bodies, reviewing documents, preparing preliminary and final lists, organizing polling centers, monitoring the conduct of the process according to existing laws, submitting reports to the Higher Elections Committee, and handling initial objections before referring them to the competent judicial authorities.

Second: Formation of Electoral Bodies

After the approval and activation of the subcommittees, the process moves to the stage of forming electoral bodies, which depends on nominating individuals from within the electoral districts according to specific conditions, namely: “the nominee must enjoy full civil and political rights, possess qualifications or community/professional experience and have a clean legal record.”

The subcommittees play a central role at this stage by reviewing applications, verifying eligibility requirements, preparing preliminary lists, and approving the final lists of electoral body members.

These bodies are the entities that will later elect parliament members, effectively acting as the “indirect voters” within the current system.

The number of members in each electoral body is determined according to a fixed formula: (Number of district seats × 50 voters) with a minimum threshold of no fewer than 30 members if the required number cannot be completed according to the specified standards.

Accordingly, in Hasakah Governorate, where ten elected parliamentary seats are allocated, an electoral body of: 10 × 50 = 500 members will be formed. Members of this body are selected under the supervision of the subcommittees of the Higher Elections Committee through local nominations and endorsements representing different segments of society. These members will later elect the governorate’s representatives to parliament.

Third: Who Is Eligible to Run for Parliament?

Under the adopted mechanism, a candidate for the Syrian parliament must:

Be Syrian and enjoy full civil and political rights.

Have no conviction for a felony or disgraceful crime.

Possess a level of education or experience determined by executive instructions.

Reside in or maintain ties to the electoral district they represent.

Not hold a position that legally prevents candidacy.

Candidacy for parliament proceeds through stages beginning with participation within the electoral bodies or through nominations approved by the Higher Elections Committee under its organizational regulations, after which candidates are elected by members of the electoral body in their district.

Fourth: Mechanism for Electing Parliament Members

After the electoral bodies are fully formed and their final lists approved, the election stage begins. Each electoral body votes within designated polling centers to select its representatives, under the supervision of the subcommittees responsible for managing voting and vote counting before submitting the results to the Higher Elections Committee for official approval and announcement.

Fifth: Supervision and Oversight

The electoral process is subject to a centralized, multi-level oversight system. The Higher Elections Committee monitors proceedings across all governorates, while subcommittees handle direct implementation. Judicial authorities are also involved in reviewing objections and appeals submitted during the various stages of the process.

Announcement of Results

The names of the winners in Syria’s parliamentary elections are generally announced after voting concludes, though not immediately. The process follows a specific procedural sequence:

1. Polling boxes are closed at the end of voting day.

2. Vote counting begins inside polling centers under the supervision of the subcommittees and in the presence of accredited observers.

3. Preliminary results are compiled within each electoral district and submitted to the Higher Elections Committee.

4. The Higher Elections Committee reviews and approves the results, including examining objections and appeals if submitted.

5. The final names of the winners are officially announced through approved channels.

A-H 

ANHA