Elections Commission (ECM) has formally opened opportunity for candidates to campaign for the upcoming local council elections.
Candidates contesting in the elections have been granted opportunity to campaign after ECM issued candidate lists. ECM has announced some candidates have already won their seats without an election as the number of contestants equaled the number candidates to be elected.
President of ECM Ahmed Shareef said 9 candidates withdrew their names before ECM ordered the candidate lists, highlighting candidacy cannot be withdrawn after the candidate lists have been issued. Shareef further said although the candidacy cannot be withdrawn, if a candidate requests ECM to remove the name from ballot papers in writing, ECM will be not print the candidate names on the ballot papers. However, such requests must be made to ECM before ballot papers are printed.
President of the electoral body also called on candidates, parties to adhere to campaign guidelines and to campaign within the limits of law during the campaign window that closes at sunset on April 3. He urged candidates to respect the competitors and to run a peaceful campaign.
ECM has stated it will place around 545 ballot boxes and the total number will be confirmed after the reregistration period has been completed. A total of 4,247 candidates will contest in the local council elections and women's development committee elections. With the amendments to the Decentralisation Act, 980 councillors will be elected to the various councils. ECM has announced 269,562 people have the right to vote in the elections to be held on April 4.