Combining elections in Senegal: "The challenge is organizational."

The possibility of holding territorial elections and early legislative elections simultaneously is sparking debate. When questioned by L'Observateur about the feasibility of such a project, electoral expert Abdou Salam Bass stated that "the challenge is not legal, but primarily organizational," emphasizing that the success of such an operation would depend on rigorous planning.

Legal feasibility subject to a strict timetable

From a legal standpoint, the expert believes there is no obstacle to holding both elections simultaneously. He points out, however, that territorial elections are already governed by the Electoral Code, unlike potential early legislative elections. According to Abdou Salam Bass, the preparatory procedures can be coordinated provided a precise timetable is adhered to, as candidate registration is handled by different authorities: the prefectures and sub-prefectures for the territorial elections, and the General Directorate of Elections (DGE) for the legislative elections.

The main risk: the organization of the election

For Abdou Salam Bass, the real challenge will be on election day. Voters may have to cast several votes in succession at the same polling station. He warns that "without impeccable organization, polling stations could quickly face long lines," risking slowing down the electoral process and sparking disputes about the transparency of the vote.

Financial savings that should be put into perspective

The expert also qualifies the budgetary argument. While combining the two systems would avoid the need for double mobilization of infrastructure and electoral staff, the costs of printing ballots would remain high due to the multiple-ballot system. The savings, he explains, would therefore primarily concern the overall organization rather than the electoral materials.

Two separate circuits for the results

The spokesperson for the Future Media Group newspaper also pointed out that the two elections follow different procedures for centralizing and handling disputes. He recommended establishing separate commissions in each department to avoid any bottlenecks and ensure that the results are announced on time.

In conclusion, although he considers coupling legally possible, the expert states that "the best option remains the organization of two separate ballots", believing that it offers the best guarantees to ensure the serenity and credibility of the electoral operations.