Mauritania is divided into several electoral districts (Arabic: دوائر إنتخابية) for the election of deputies to the National Assembly, based on the departments of the country, with the exception of the capital city of Nouakchott, where the electoral districts are based on the three regions the city is divided in.
The 176 members of the National Assembly are elected by two methods (with Mauritanians being able to cast four different votes in a parallel voting system); 125 are elected from single- or multi-member electoral districts based on the departments (or moughataas) that the country is subdivided in (which the exception of Nouakchott, which is divided in three 7-seat constituencies based on the three regions (or wilayas) the city is subdivided in),[1] using either the two-round system or proportional representation; in single-member constituencies candidates require a majority of the vote to be elected in the first round and a plurality in the second round. In two-seat constituencies, voters vote for a party list; if no list receives more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a second round is held, with the winning party taking both seats. In constituencies with three or more seats, closed list proportional representation is used, with seats allocated using the largest remainder method.[2] For three-seat constituencies, party lists must include a female candidate in first or second on the list; for larger constituencies a zipper system is used, with alternate male and female candidates.[2]
The Mauritania diaspora gets allocated four seats, with the 2023 election being the first time Mauritanians in the diaspora are able to directly elect their representatives.[1]
The remaining 51 seats are elected from three nationwide constituencies, also using closed list proportional representation: a 20-seat national list (which uses a zipper system), a 20-seat women's national list and a 11-seat youth list (with two reserved for people with special needs), which also uses a zipper system to guarantee the representation of women.[1] [2]
Every department gets a set number of seats based on their population.[3]
| Population | Seats | Election system |
|---|---|---|
| Equal or less than 31,000 | 1 | Two-round system |
| More than 31,000 | 2 | Two-round general ticket |
| More than 90,000 | 3 | Largest remainder method without an electoral threshold |
| More than 120,000 | 4 | |
| Districts of Nouakchott (pre-assigned) | 7 |
| Adrar | Aoujeft | 12,657 (2023) | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atar | 26,486 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Chinguetti | 10,523 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Ouadane | 3,428 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Assaba | Barkéol | 37,795 (2023) | 2 | |
| Boumdeid | 10,763 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Guerou | 25,828 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Kankossa | 28,954 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Kiffa | 61,102 (2023) | 3 | ||
| Brakna | Aleg | 37,250 (2023) | 2 | |
| Bababé | 19,898 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Boghé | 33,725 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Magta Lahjar | 42,026 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Male (new) | 24,809 (2023) | 2 | ||
| M'Bagne | 22,377 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Dakhlet Nouadhibou | Chami | 10,669 (2023) | 1 | |
| Nouadhibou | 55,754 (2023) | 4 | ||
| Gorgol | Kaédi | 35,785 (2023) | 3 | |
| Lexeiba (new) | 14,616 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Maghama | 22,344 (2023) | 2 | ||
| M'Bout | 42,733 (2023) | 3 | ||
| Monguel | 20,013 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Guidimaga | Ghabou | 22,802 (2023) | 2 | |
| Ould Yengé | 28,180 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Sélibaby | 25,847 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Wompou (new) | 14,996 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Hodh Ech Chargui | Amourj | 22,745 (2023) | 2 | |
| Bassiknou | 25,291 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Djigueni | 29,897 (2023) | 2 | ||
| N'Beiket Lehwach (new) | 8,333 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Néma | 45,191 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Oualata | 8,850 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Timbédra | 38,489 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Hodh El Gharbi | Aïoun | 38,430 (2023) | 2 | |
| Koubenni | 40,570 (2023) | 3 | ||
| Tamchekett | 20,421 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Tintane | 41,156 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Touil (new) | 11,678 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Inchiri | Akjoujt | 8,326 (2023) | 1 | |
| Bénichab | 11,414 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Nouakchott-Nord (new) | 120,387 (2023) | 7 | ||
| Nouakchott-Ouest (new) | 141,921 (2023) | 7 | ||
| Nouakchott-Sud (new) | 119,368 (2023) | 7 | ||
| Tagant | Moudjéria | 28,224 (2023) | 2 | |
| Tichitt | 4,966 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Tidjikja | 22,643 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Tiris Zemmour | Bir Moghrein | 3,863 (2023) | 1 | |
| F'Déirick | 4,152 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Zouérate | 19,838 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Trarza | Boutilimit | 49,529 (2023) | 2 | |
| Keur Macène | 28,619 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Méderdra | 24,533 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Ouad Naga | 51,217 (2023) | 2 | ||
| R'Kiz | 29,791 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Rosso | 29,710 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Tékane (new) | 23,113 (2023) | 2 | ||
| Diaspora | Africa | 7,258 (2023) | 1 | |
| America | 2,695 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Asia | 6,366 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Europe | 5,969 (2023) | 1 | ||
| Total | 1,785,036 (2023) | 125 | ||