RAMALLAH, Saturday, March 26, 2022 (WAFA) – Polls opened this morning for the second phase of local elections at 50 Palestinian localities in the West Bank, after attempts to hold the elections in Gaza have failed, according to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC).

Polling centers opened their doors at 7:00 a.m. and will continue until 7:00 p.m. to enable eligible voters, who are estimated to be around 715,000 voters, to cast their votes.

In 50 localities, said the CEC, more than one electoral list was nominated, which means there will be elections. In 23 other localities, only one electoral list was nominated, which means the sole in each locality will win by acclamation.

In September last year, the Palestinian cabinet issued a decision calling to hold the second phase of the local council elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 66 localities in areas classified as A and B, under Palestinian control.

The CEC said it had prepared 1203 ballot boxes and distributed them to polling stations in 50 localities in all districts of the West Bank.

The CEC said earlier it had implemented a number of procedures to facilitate the polling of persons with disabilities, older citizens and the illiterate. To this end, 23 polling centers have been replaced by the commission, as they did not accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities and older adults.  

The first phase of local elections was held on December 11 in 154 small and medium-sized localities in the West Bank only after Hamas, the de facto authority in the Gaza Strip, refused to allow elections in the besieged sea enclave.

M.N