Hanna Nasser, the Chairman of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC), said at a press conference today that data from polling centers in the second phase of the local elections show a noticeable turnout in most districts of the West Bank.
He said the polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time and will close at 7:00 p.pm local time in all districts, with the exception of one polling station in Nablus district that will close at 8:00 p.m. in order to allow voters from the Samaritan community to cast their votes after sunset.
Nasser said a total of 715,413 eligible voters are eligible to cast their vote at this phase of the local elections in 315 polling centers with a total of 1,203 ballot boxes. He added that,700 male and female employees are working in these centers.
He pointed out that 234 electoral lists are running for 50 local councils where voting is taking place today. These lists include 2,306 candidates, 27% of them are women, all competing for 632 seats.
He said polling and counting will take place in the presence of more than 2,600 local observers, 300 international observers and guests, and more than 5,300 agents representing the competing lists of candidates.
Nasser expressed his regret that the elections were not held this time in Gaza after Hamas, the de facto authority in the Gaza Strip, refused to allow the elections to be held there.
The first phase of local elections was held on December 11 in 154 small and medium-sized localities in the West Bank, while this time the election is being held in areas classified as B and A, under Palestinian Authority control.
Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA)