The Central Elections Commission announced on Saturday the opening of nominations for candidate lists for the 2026 legislative elections, simultaneously in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The commission said it began receiving nomination applications at 8 a.m. at its headquarters in the city of Al-Bireh and its office in Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. The process will continue for 12 days until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 October.
The first morning hours of the nomination period saw a large turnout of candidate lists at its offices in Ramallah and Deir al-Balah.
It explained that candidacy for membership of the Legislative Council is through electoral lists only, and individual candidacy applications are not accepted. The number of candidates on a list must not be less than 16 or more than 132, with adherence to the minimum representation of women in accordance with the provisions of the law.
It stated that a list's nomination application is submitted by its coordinator and commissioner after completing the required forms, documents and attachments. It stressed that the applications are subject to study and scrutiny to ensure they meet the legal conditions, and that submitting an application does not mean it has been accepted or approved.
The commission affirmed the readiness of its teams in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to receive nomination applications and provide the necessary guidance and information to representatives of the lists. It called on those wishing to run to first review the bulletins, procedures and forms published on its website www.elections.ps and to ensure all requirements are complete before submitting an application.
It called on the lists and their representatives to contact the commission and its offices to inquire about the legal and technical aspects of the nomination process, stressing its commitment to making information available equally and facilitating application procedures in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The nomination phase is one of the main stages in the timetable for the 2026 legislative elections, with the general vote scheduled for Saturday, 28 November.
