RAMALLAH, June 20, 2017 (WAFA) – The Central Elections Commission (CEC) said Tuesday that the preliminary register of electoral lists and candidates for the upcoming complementary local elections showed that elections will take place in only 15 West Bank localities out of 70 that had failed to participate in the May 13 local council elections.

It said that the 15 localities had more than one nominated list and therefore they will hold elections set for July 29.

Electoral lists in 18 other localities are expected to win by acclamation due to having only one nominated list in each, said the CEC.

Elections, meanwhile, will not take place in 36 localities since no lists were nominated and in another locality for incomplete nomination, it added. As a result, the government is expected to appoint councils to run these localities.

During the nomination period the CEC received 74 nomination applications. The CEC accepted the nomination of 73 lists upon meeting the legal requirements of nomination stipulated in the local elections law and rejected one list for failing to meet the nomination conditions.

Nominated lists can still withdraw their nomination until 14 July and the final register of lists and candidates will be announced on 15 July coinciding with the commencement of elections campaigning activities, said the CEC.

M.K.