At Stake in this Election: 

On June 18, 2023, Malians will vote on a proposed constitution prepared by the transitional government. The proposed constitution would increase presidential powers, create a bicameral legislature, explicitly define Mali as a secular state, and allow for the creation of autonomous areas ruled by locally elected councils, among other changes. The constitutional referendum, planned as part of a democratic transition intended to culminate in a general election in 2024, was rescheduled from March to June of 2023.  

Government Structure:  

• Chief of State: Transition President Assimi GOÏTA (since 7 June 2021) 

• Head of Government: Transition Prime Minister Choguel MAÏGA (since 7 June 2021) 

• Assembly: unicameral National Transition Council (Conseil National de la Transition) with 147 seats 

Electoral System:  

• The transition President was appointed by the military.  

• In August of 2020, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta officially resigned under pressure from the military, who then installed Bah Ndaw as transitional president. In May 2021, the military removed Ndaw and installed Colonel Assimi Goïta as the new transition president. 

• The transition Prime Minister was appointed by the transition President. 

• The National Transition Council includes 147 seats, and all members were appointed by the transition president. 

New/Unique in this Election:  

Mali is experiencing ongoing armed conflict, especially in the northern and central regions, as insurgent groups clash with one another as well as government and UN forces. The conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and the complex security situation affects significant portions of the country. Major electoral challenges include voting by displaced people and addressing shifting security threats, especially as conflict approaches the capital region. There is an early voting day on 11 June 2023 for members of the armed forces. 

Key Deadlines: 

• Voter registration deadline: 31 December 2022 

Population and Registered Voters: 

• Population: 21,359,722 (2023 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 8,463,085 (2023) 

Gender Data: 

• Female Population: 10,953,704 (2023 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Signed 5 February 1985, Ratified 10 September 1985 

• Gender Quota: Each candidate list must be balanced in terms of gender composition such that neither men nor women make up more than 70% of the list.  

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 42 out of 147 (28.6%) in the National Assembly 

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.428, Low, Rank 186 (2021 est.) 

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: 52.9% (2023)  

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Signed 15 May 2007, Ratified 7 April 2008  

• Projected population with a disability: 3,203,958 (2023 est.) 

IFES Resources: 

• Does IFES have a presence in Mali: Yes, program office 

• Election Access: Yes 

• Election Judgements: Yes; 4 judgements & 10 resources