The Central Elections Commission (CEC) announced today, Monday, the opening of centers for receiving nomination applications for the 2026 Local Elections, which commence today and continue until March 1st, in 12 locations spread across all cities of the West Bank, in addition to the city of Deir al-Balah.
The CEC emphasized that these offices will be receiving nomination applications daily from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm, including on Friday and Saturday, in attempt to facilitate the nomination procedures throughout the 421 local authorities within the dedicated legal period.
Concerning Deir al-Balah municipality, the CEC clarified that nomination applications are available at its office in Deir al-Balah, which will be receiving applications according to special procedures and conditions that consider the peculiar circumstances in the Gaza Strip, pointing out that these elections are a milestone, being the first local elections to be conducted in the Strip since 2005. Moreover, the CEC will conduct elections in all local authorities in the Strip once the necessary circumstances and conditions are available.
The CEC pointed out working on finalizing the technical and logistical arrangements necessary for guaranteeing the smooth flow of receiving nomination applications in all nomination centers, including the equipping of the centers, training the specialized teams. Additionally, the CEC clarified the mechanism for submitting applications to candidates whether individuals in the village councils or as part of electoral lists in the municipal councils, in accordance with the provisions of the law.
The CEC further clarified that all information related to nomination conditions, application forms, and detailed procedures are available on its official website, which will allow candidates to review the legal and administrative requirements in advance, before visiting one of the CEC’s offices, in order to avoid any shortcomings or delays.
The CEC invites any candidate exposed to violations hindering his/her ability to exercise his/her right to nomination and voting, to submit a complaint at the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) – Complaints Mechanism. The latter will follow up all complaints in coordination with the CEC and in accordance with the approved procedures, in a way that guarantees protection of rights and public freedoms and liberties.
The CEC also invited all individuals interested in nomination to review their applications carefully, making sure all required documents and annexes are complete before visiting its offices, in order to fast-track processing applications and avoiding any procedural issues. Additionally, it encouraged candidates not postpone the submission of their applications until the last day of the nomination period, reaffirming that nomination period concludes by the end of March 1st, without a possibility for extensions, in order to ensure adherence to the timeline of the electoral process and easy completion of procedures.