Algeria's local elections have seen an approximately 80 percent reduction in free candidate lists at the municipal people's councils level compared to the 2021 elections. This significant decrease shows a notable shift in the landscape of electoral participation. As of September 23, 2026, 12,881 files were submitted for municipal councils; of these, 12,557 were from political parties, 20 from alliances, and 304 were free lists. For provincial councils, 672 files were submitted by the same date, with 644 under political parties, 3 from alliances, and 25 independent free lists. The number of free lists has decreased by about 80 percent at the municipal people's councils level compared to the same period in the 2021 elections.
Municipal Council Trends
By September 23, 2026, 12,881 candidacy files were withdrawn for municipal people's councils. This figure represents a significant decrease compared to the 2021 elections, when 20,685 candidacy files were withdrawn for municipal people's councils by September 20. The 2021 figures for municipal councils reflect the situation as of September 20, 2021.
Of the 20,685 files in 2021 for municipal councils, 19,160 were submitted under political parties, and 1,525 were free lists. This year, the share of party lists for municipal councils rose from about 92.6 percent in 2021 to approximately 97.5 percent in the current tally. Conversely, the share of free lists for municipal councils decreased from about 7.4 percent to approximately 2.4 percent. Electoral authorities reported that 2,973,261 individual forms were withdrawn for supporting municipal council member candidacies. This data notes a growing preference for established party structures in local governance.
Provincial Council Shifts
Party-sponsored lists demonstrate a presence exceeding 95 percent at both municipal and provincial council levels in the current election cycle. This indicates a strong consolidation of political party influence across different administrative tiers. By September 23, 2026, a total of 672 files were withdrawn for provincial people's councils. This figure marks a decline compared to the 2021 elections, when 1,021 files were withdrawn for provincial people's councils during the same period.
In 2021, of the 1,021 files for provincial councils, 798 were submitted under political parties, while 223 were free lists. This meant party lists represented approximately 78.2 percent of provincial files at that time, compared to 21.8 percent for free lists. For the current elections, party lists accounted for about 95.8 percent of provincial files withdrawn, contrasting with 3.7 percent for free lists. This significant shift shows a considerable reduction in independent candidacies at the provincial level. Electoral authorities reported that 536,389 individual forms were withdrawn to support provincial council member candidacies.
Context and Alliances
The upcoming local elections are scheduled for November 28. These figures reflecting candidacy submissions are current as of September 23, 2026. The Independent National Electoral Authority (ANIE) provided data on the composition of submitted lists, noting the presence of alliances alongside political party and free lists. For municipal councils, ANIE recorded 20 files submitted under alliances, demonstrating a limited but present role for collaborative political formations. A smaller number of alliances were observed at the provincial council level, with ANIE documenting 3 such files. The inclusion of alliance lists indicates a further diversification in the types of political formations participating in the electoral process, distinct from traditional party affiliations or independent candidacies, though their overall impact on the total number of lists remains marginal compared to political parties. The current figures reflect the situation as of September 23, 2026, providing a snapshot of the electoral landscape as the nomination period concludes.