The Libyan members were elected by popular vote on March 5, 1972, some 500,000 cast their votes.[6] The vote had been scheduled for February 27, 1972 but was postponed as new requirements for candidates were introduced.[6][8] As per the requirements from the law from February 27 candidates were required to be Libyan citizens, hold a secondary education certificate, be 30 years old, hold membership in the Arab Socialist Union and deposit 50 Libyan dinars (most of these requirements were added ad hoc after the postponing of the vote in February 1972).[6] Voting was compulsory.[6]