RAMALLAH, March 25, 2017 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) published on Saturday full page ads in the local newspaper announcing that nomination of candidates for the upcoming local elections will start on Tuesday.

Candidates will have 10 days to register with the CEC. However, the final official lists will be announced on April 29, after candidates are given a chance to withdraw and the public to file any objections that may be raised against candidates or lists.

Local elections are scheduled for May 3 in 416 localities in the West Bank alone since Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said it will not allow them in Gaza, which has 25 local councils.

Elections were supposed to be held on October 8 but postponed after a court ordered to halt them following a petition disqualifying Gaza courts from ruling on election issues.

The last local elections were held four years ago also in only the West Bank following Hamas boycott.

M.K.