Polling for the election of local authority councils commences on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Casting ballots begins at 7:00 AM and concludes at 7:00 PM

For details on the electoral process in Deir al-Balah click here

Maps of the local authorities where elections will be held on April 25, 2026

 Local Authorities that changed names

Voters go to the polling center they are registered at, which can be inquired about through:

• The CEC’s Website (Where is your polling center?)
• Using mobile phones to inquire by calling *600#

 Polling Centers – April 4, 2026

 Polling Centers Deir al-Balah

Polling and Counting Procedures

 Decree Law No. (23) of 2025, concerning the Election of Local Authority Councils

Polling process

Voters must carry their personal ID cards to the polling center in order to be allowed to exercise their right to vote with complete confidentiality and freedom, according to the following steps:

• Adhering to the queue, the procedures, and the instructions of polling staff, most importantly handing over mobile phones before entry.
• One of the polling staff will check the voter’s ID.
• Each voter will be provided a ballot paper after making sure his/her name is marked on the voters’ list. The polling staff member will stamp the paper from the back, and ask the voter to go behind one of the booths to cast his/her ballot with full confidentiality.
• The ballot paper is filled by marking one electoral list using a mark that clearly indicates the voter’s choice inside the box next to the name of the electoral list he/she chose.
• Voters then go to the ballot box after folding the ballot paper in a manner that completely conceals its contents, and then insert the paper into the ballot box simultaneously as electoral ink is being added to their left index finger.
• Voters must leave the polling station and center as soon as they finish casting their ballots.

In municipal councils: Voting is achieved by selecting one electoral list, and under the same list voters may select five or less candidates.

In village councils: Voting is achieved by selecting five or less candidates.

In case of making a mistake while filling out the ballot paper, or in case of damaging it

• In case a voter made a mistake while filling out his/her ballot paper or in case he/she damaged it, the ballot paper must be handed over to the ballot papers staff, and receive a new stamped ballot paper to be filled in the correct manner.
• The station manager marks the paper as “cancelled” in front of all voters and agents present.

Polling for Illiterate voters

• Any illiterate voter may bring along a person (companion) of his/her choice to the polling station where he/she is registered to help him/her fill out the ballot paper.
• Illiterate voter shall fingerprint the Declaration form for helping illiterate voters, and it must be signed by the companion.
• No one is allowed to accompany more than one voter.
• Should it become evident that the companion is not filling out the ballot paper according to the voter’s desire, or attempted to influence his/her choice, the companion will be asked to leave the polling station and center, and the voter will be asked to bring another person to help.
• No CEC staff, candidates, agents, observers or journalists present are allowed to help any voter to fill out his/her ballot paper.

Polling for Persons with Disabilities

• The CEC undertakes all appropriate measures and procedures to enable voters with disabilities to cast their ballots independently as feasible as possible.
• Any voter with disability, whose disability hinders his/her ability to fill out the ballot paper independently, may bring along a person of his/her choice to the polling station where he/she is registered to help fill out the ballot paper.
• The voter with disability must sign (if feasible) or agree to the declaration and commitment form for helping persons with disabilities.
• No one is allowed to accompany more than one voter.
• Should it become evident that the companion is not filling out the ballot paper according to the voter’s desire, or attempted to influence his/her choice, the companion will be asked to leave the polling station and center and the voter will be asked to bring another person to help.
• No CEC staff, candidates, agents, observers or journalists present are allowed to help any voter to fill out his/her ballot paper.

Counting Procedures

• Counting takes place inside the polling stations, separately.
• The process must be done publically so that local and international observers, journalists, candidates and their representatives and agents may observe and monitor the process.
• Counting starts within an hour from concluding polling, and most be concluded in no longer than 12 hours since its commencement.
• It is prohibited to declare any information concerning the counting results before fully concluding the process.
• Each station committee begins counting directly after the conclusion of polling.
• Station staff begins counting the number of electors whose names are marked on the voters’ list and writing it down in the polling commencement and conclusion protocol.
• The ballot box is opened and emptied of papers, which are arranged in bundles, counted and their numbers matched to the number of electors.
• The station manager begins to read ballot papers aloud one by one.
• One of the staff present starts writing down the votes on the counting board.
• Another staff member puts a mark next to the name of the list that was just mentioned.
• After sorting out the papers, all papers are counted and they include:
  • Valid papers per electoral list.
  • White papers.
  • Invalid papers.
  • Cancelled papers.
• The summations are verified against what is written on the counting boards and the votes counting form.
• In case of mismatch, counting shall be repeated following the same steps.
• A copy of the counting protocol is posted on the outer side of the station’s door.
• The protocol envelop and ballot box are handed over to the Center manager, who is responsible for calculating the final votes of each list.
• In case the counting process took a long time, station committee members may take short breaks in rotation to guarantee the continuity and accuracy of counting.

Invalid and White Ballot Papers

1. A ballot paper may be considered invalid if:
   • The paper was not issued by the CEC.
   • The paper was not stamped with the CEC’s stamp.
   • The paper was signed by voter’s name, or marked in a distinguished way other than that approved by the CEC.
   • The paper was marked in a way that makes it difficult to identify the voter’s choice.
   • More than one list or the candidates of more than one list were marked in case of municipal council elections.
   • More than five candidates from one list are marked.
   • More than five candidates of village councils are marked.
   • The paper is torn or partially damaged.
   • The ballot paper was white with no markings.
2. A ballot paper may be considered white if it was an official stamp ballot paper without any markings.

Persons allowed access to Polling Centers and Stations

The following bodies and individuals are allowed access to polling stations and to attend the polling process:

• Relevant CEC Commissioners and staff.
• Voters whose names are listed in the center voters’ list.
• Accredited electoral list agents.
• Candidates or their accredited agents.
• Accredited local and international observers, and journalists.
• Approved CEC guests.
• Police officers according to approved regulations.

Accredited Journalists

Accredited journalists have the right to cover the polling and counting process inside the polling centers and stations without disrupting the flow of the process or undermining the confidentiality of polling.

• They must wear their own accreditation card (issued by the CEC) while present inside the polling centers and stations.
• It is prohibited to conduct interviews inside the stations, whereas it is permitted only inside the centers.
• It is not allowed to photograph or film inside the polling booths, meanwhile it is allowed to film the counting process.

Polling Day Security

• The CEC in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior devises security arrangements necessary for the polling and counting process, in order to maintain its security, integrity and freedom.
• Each center is allocated a certain number of police officers to maintain security inside the center on polling day.
• Police officers are prohibited from being present inside polling and counting stations unless requested by the center manager in extreme cases of need that threaten the integrity of the electoral process or the safety of individuals present therein, and only for the period decided by the manager.
• Police officers may carry weapons inside the station, if they were called in by the center manager and for the purposes of maintaining order, however, if they were entering for purposes of casting their ballots, they may not carry any weapons.
• Police officers must adhere to the code of conduct dedicated to their work by the CEC.