The Central Elections Committee announced on Saturday that it has opened the window for receiving candidacy applications for the legislative elections scheduled to take place in November. The process is being conducted simultaneously in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. According to the committee, the reception of applications began at 8:00 a.m. at its main headquarters in al-Bireh and its office in Deir al-Balah, Gaza. This registration phase will continue for twelve days, concluding at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7.
Reports from the first morning indicated significant attendance from candidate lists at the Ramallah and Deir al-Balah offices. The committee clarified that participation in the Legislative Council elections is restricted exclusively to electoral lists; individual candidacies are not accepted. Each list must comprise between 16 and 132 candidates. Furthermore, all participating lists are required to adhere to the legal minimum threshold for female representation as stipulated by the relevant laws.
To submit an application, a list’s coordinator and authorized representative must complete the necessary forms, documents, and attachments. The committee emphasized that submitted requests undergo rigorous study and verification to ensure compliance with legal requirements. It was noted that the act of submitting an application does not constitute acceptance or official approval of the candidacy. The committee stressed that final validation depends on the thorough review of all provided materials against statutory criteria.
Staff members in both the West Bank and Gaza have been prepared to receive applications and provide guidance to list representatives. The committee urged interested parties to review the bulletins, procedures, and forms published on its official website prior to submission. Candidates were advised to verify that all requirements are fully met before presenting their documents to avoid procedural issues. The committee also encouraged continuous communication with its offices to clarify any legal or technical aspects related to the candidacy process, ensuring equal access to information and facilitating the submission procedures across both territories.
This registration stage constitutes a primary component of the timeline for the 2026 Legislative Elections. Following the conclusion of the candidacy period and subsequent verification processes, general voting is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 28.
