The National Independent Elections Authority (السلطة الوطنية المستقلة للانتخابات) announced conditions for candidate lists on Thursday, September 17. The authority's statement, which was published on Thursday, September 17, outlined the requirements for endorsement in the election of members of municipal and provincial popular councils. These elections are scheduled to take place on November 28 across الجزائر. This significant announcement provides key clarity for prospective candidates and political parties ahead of the upcoming polls, ensuring a structured approach to the electoral process. The conditions detailed by the Authority aim to streamline candidate selection while maintaining a standard of public support or proven electoral performance.
Endorsement Requirements Detailed
Political parties that secured more than four percent of the expressed votes in their respective electoral districts during the previous local elections are permitted to submit candidate lists without the requirement of collecting signatures. This provision acknowledges parties with a demonstrated level of support in past electoral cycles. Similarly, parties that currently hold a minimum of 10 elected members within the local popular councils of the specific province concerned are also exempt from gathering signatures for their candidate lists. This exemption recognizes the established presence and representation of such parties within local governance structures.
However, political parties that do not fulfill either of these aforementioned conditions must meet a different requirement. This also applies to parties participating for the first time in the elections, or if a list is submitted under a 'free list' designation. In such instances, these lists must be supported by a minimum of 35 signatures from voters registered in the relevant electoral district for each seat that is to be filled. This stipulation ensures a baseline level of public support for candidacies not covered by the performance-based exemptions, promoting genuine voter engagement in the endorsement process. The requirement shows the Authority's commitment to ensuring all candidates demonstrate a degree of grassroots backing.
Alliance Rules Clarified
The National Independent Elections Authority (السلطة الوطنية المستقلة للانتخابات) further clarified rules regarding candidate list submissions for alliances. Parties that obtained four percent or less of the votes in previous elections are prohibited from combining their percentage with another party's percentage to collectively exceed the four percent threshold for an alliance list. This measure prevents smaller parties from aggregating their past electoral performance to bypass signature requirements, ensuring that each component party of an alliance meets a substantive individual criterion for exemption. This rule maintains the integrity of the endorsement process by focusing on the independent strength of each political entity.
Similarly, the Authority stipulated that parties with fewer than 10 elected members in the local popular councils of a concerned province cannot combine their number with another party's elected members to reach the minimum of ten. This restriction applies to the submission of joint lists, ensuring that each participating party in an alliance independently meets the established criteria for exemption from signature collection. These alliance rules are designed to prevent circumvention of the endorsement requirements, fostering transparency and fairness in the formation of electoral lists.
Previous Election Data
The National Independent Elections Authority (السلطة الوطنية المستقلة للانتخابات) has provided guidance to political parties regarding data from previous polls. The Authority informed parties participating in the election of members of municipal and provincial popular councils that they could refer to certified copies of the voting results concentration minutes. This directive applies to the election scheduled for November 27, 2021. The Authority’s instruction aims to assist parties in verifying their past electoral performance, which is key for determining eligibility for exemptions from signature collection requirements for the upcoming November polls. The specific election date referenced for these previous results was November 27, 2021, providing a clear benchmark for parties to assess their standing and prepare their candidate lists accordingly. This guidance ensures that parties have access to official records to support their claims for exemption.