The Israeli government has denied permission for teams from the Palestinian Central Elections Commission to enter the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem. This decision prevents officials from monitoring preparations and procedures related to the legislative elections set for November 28. A senior Palestinian source stated on October 6 that Israel formally notified the Palestinian side of its refusal to allow the commission access to these areas. This move is seen as an attempt to disrupt the work of the commission in two regions that are fundamental to the Palestinian electoral process.
Despite these restrictions, the Central Elections Commission had already initiated preparatory steps for the upcoming vote. On September 26, the commission announced the opening of the registration window for party lists for the 2026 legislative elections in both the West Bank and Gaza. The commission began receiving candidacy applications at its main headquarters in al-Bireh and at its office in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. It clarified that candidates for the Legislative Council must run exclusively through electoral lists, with individual candidacy requests not being accepted.
According to the published procedures, each list must include a minimum of 16 candidates and a maximum of 132. The commission emphasized adherence to the legal minimum requirements for female representation. The body is tasked with reviewing applications and verifying documents to ensure compliance with legal conditions. However, it stressed that submitting an application does not guarantee final acceptance or approval of the candidacy. The commission affirmed its readiness to receive applications and provide necessary guidance to list representatives in both the West Bank and Gaza, urging all parties to review electoral forms and notices before submission.
The election date has been fixed for Saturday, November 28. Approximately 2.97 million Palestinians in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip meet the voting eligibility criteria. The voter base is distributed with roughly 1.24 million eligible voters in Gaza and 1.59 million in the West Bank. Additionally, around 140 thousand residents holding Jerusalem IDs are included in this count. These figures encompass citizens who meet legal requirements, including those turning 18 by election day.
Data indicates that youth will constitute the largest segment of the electorate. About 1.50 million voters are under the age of 38, representing 53% of the total eligible population. This demographic holds significant weight given that nearly two decades have passed since the last general Legislative Council elections, meaning many young voters have never participated in such polls. The age group of 18 to 24 years accounts for 17.5% of voters, while those aged 25 to 35 make up 30.6%. The 36 to 45 age bracket comprises 20.8%, and those aged 46 to 55 represent 14.3%. Voters over 55 years old account for approximately 16.8%.
The gender distribution among eligible voters is nearly equal, with women comprising 49.9% and men 50.1%. Regarding persons with disabilities, about 51 thousand individuals are registered as eligible voters in the West Bank, constituting roughly 3.2% of the total. Comparable data for Gaza was not available. The commission announced plans to adjust polling centers and stations to accommodate the needs of voters with disabilities. The Israeli refusal to grant the commission access to Gaza and Jerusalem presents a direct operational obstacle as the body continues to execute the electoral timeline ahead of the November vote.
