Libyans are going to the polls to elect their president for the first time. By Nov. 22, the deadline for submitting candidacy papers, the total number of people running for the country's top position reached 98 individuals — in a country of 6.5 million people and less than 3 million eligible voters.
The field includes personalities from all walks of life, including Libya’s top comedian, current and former prime ministers, and former and current parliament speakers. The late Muammer Gaddhafi’s son, Saif Al-Islam, his father’s former secretary, Bashir Saleh, and a Gaddhafi-era minister all have joined the race. General Khalifa Hifter, the dominant force in eastern Libya, also hopes to win the presidency through the ballot box.
