Election Commission Updates Civil Society Organizations on Preparations for Local Elections 2026

SadaNews - The Central Election Commission confirmed its commitment to conducting the local elections of 2026 with full professionalism and neutrality, emphasizing the importance of partnership with civil society organizations to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.

This came during a meeting held by Dr. Rami Hamdallah, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, with representatives of several civil society organizations working in the fields of democracy, human rights, and election monitoring on Thursday at the Commission's headquarters in the city of Al-Bireh.

During the meeting, Hamdallah reviewed the Commission's latest preparations for the implementation of the local elections, most notably the voter registration process and the opening of the reception of election monitoring requests, which constitute one of the fundamental pillars to ensure the integrity of the electoral process at all its stages. He called on the institutions to contribute to awareness and monitoring efforts regarding the electoral process, praising their important role in enhancing citizens’ trust in the elections, and in observing field notes and challenges and contributing to their professional resolution.

Hamdallah also informed representatives of civil society organizations of the Commission's decision to organize elections in the city of Deir al-Balah simultaneously with conducting them in 420 local bodies in the West Bank, while it is impossible to conduct them in the rest of the municipalities in the Gaza Strip at this stage due to overwhelming security and logistical conditions.

The meeting also addressed the general framework and challenges surrounding the electoral process, foremost among them the amendments to the Local Elections Law No. (23) of 2025 issued on 19/11/2025, and the adoption of two different electoral systems for the first time, in addition to the short time available for awareness operations.

Hamdallah confirmed the Commission’s understanding of all the concerns expressed by the institutions following the amendments to the law, and respect for the choices of some parties not to participate, stressing that the Commission stands as an executive authority at an equal distance from all parties and ensures the right to participate for everyone.

Regarding the field challenges, Hamdallah addressed the challenges that followed the war on the Gaza Strip, continuous incursions, and barriers in the West Bank, in addition to the legal challenges resulting from the amendments to the law, and the challenges related to the severe financial crisis the country is undergoing, affirming that these challenges are unprecedented in the history of Palestinian elections.

The meeting concluded with an emphasis that the success of the local elections is a collective national responsibility, calling for enhanced coordination and integration with civil society organizations during the upcoming phase, to contribute to entrenching the democratic path despite all challenges.