Gaza, Palestine – Polling stations opened their doors this morning, Saturday, to Palestinian citizens to cast their votes in the 2026 local elections. The elections include municipal and village councils in the West Bank, in addition to an exceptional and historic event in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
Deir al-Balah: A historic election after a two-decade absence
Deir al-Balah witnessed a large influx of citizens from the early morning hours. This is the first municipal election to be held in the city after a 20-year hiatus. The last elections in the Gaza Strip were held in 2006. Approximately 70,000 residents of the city are eligible to exercise their constitutional right to elect their representatives to the municipal council, amidst high hopes for reconstruction and improved services.
The Central Elections Commission designated 12 polling stations to facilitate the electoral process. Four lists are competing: “Peace and Construction,” “Deir al-Balah Unites Us,” “The Future of Deir al-Balah,” and “The Renaissance of Deir al-Balah.” Each list includes 15 candidates, with a requirement of at least four women on each list. The mayor will be chosen from among the winning lists. This election comes after the tragedy of the targeting of the municipal building and the martyrdom of its mayor and members in Israeli airstrikes in December 2014.
One million voters and procedures to ensure integrity and confidentiality
In the West Bank, voting began simultaneously in all targeted local councils. The Central Elections Commission reported that more than one million voters were expected to cast their ballots by 7:00 PM. The Commission emphasized that a personal identification card was a prerequisite for voting. Furthermore, it stressed the secrecy of the ballot and prohibited the use of mobile phones inside polling stations.
The committee explained the voting mechanism: in municipal councils, voters select one list by marking it with a checkmark, then choose five candidates from that list. In village councils, voters select five names directly from the ballot paper. In a new procedural step, the committee decided to forgo the use of indelible ink in polling stations in the West Bank. However, the committee provided special accommodations for illiterate voters and those with mobility impairments to ensure their access to polling stations and to offer them legal assistance.
Sorting and announcing the results
The vote counting process is scheduled to begin immediately after the polls close at the same polling stations, in the presence of local and international observers, party representatives, and journalists, to ensure the highest degree of transparency. The preliminary tally sheet will be posted at the entrance of each station before the data is transferred to the central office. The electoral commission announced that it will hold a press conference tomorrow, Sunday, April 26, 2026, to announce the official preliminary results, the allocation of seats, the names of the winners, and the final voter turnout percentages. Additionally, the appeals process will be open to the electoral court for one week from the date of the announcement.
