National Electoral Commission of Somaliland which was established by the Presidential and Local Council elections law (Law No. 20/2001) on January 21, 2001 is an independent Body. The Commission consists of seven members who are nominated by different institutions (three members were nominated by the late president of Somaliland, two were nominated by the House of Elders and two were nominated by the opposition parties). By law the appointment of the members of the commission must be approved by the House of Representative. This was done on January 21, 2002. Their term of office is five years.

The Commission\\\'s statutory duty is to organize and conduct free and fair elections in Somaliland. Although the responsibility of the commission is enormous, yet its main functions can be summarized as:.

1. Undertake the registration of the voters
2. Set the dates of the election
3. Set the number and the location of the polling stations;
4. Appoint the staff of the Central office and those of the offices of the regions and districts and polling stations;
5. Conduct and oversee the election