Key Election Deadlines
Below are key deadlines and procedures related with the May 21 parliamentary elections, set by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on March 23.
March 26 – A party should submit an application to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
March 28 – Parties should nominate members for 75 District Election Commissions. The number of DEC members is increased from five to 13 members, with six to be nominated by opposition parties. If vacant seats are not filled by parties before the deadline, the CEC will unilaterally appoint members for the vacant positions.
March 31 – The CEC has to publish the total number of voters.
April 1 – Political parties wishing to run in the polls and which currently have no members in the sitting parliament should submit a list of 30,000 supporters to the CEC.
April 8 – The deadline expires for the submission of applications for parties wishing to set up an election bloc.
April 14 – Registration procedures of election blocs should be completed by the CEC.
April 21 – The CEC has to announce successfully registered election blocs and say why it refused to register others, if any.
April 21 – Number of parties/blocs on the ballot papers will be announced.
April 21 – Deadline expires for submission of party/bloc-lists of MP candidates running under the proportional system.
April 21 – Deadline expires for submission of majoritarian MP candidates by parties/blocs.
May 11 – Deadline expires for submission of applications by local election observer organizations needed for CEC registration.
May 14 – Deadline expires for international observation missions.
May 16 – CEC and lower level election commissions should publish exact number of voters.
May 18 – Deadline for submission of applications for media accreditation expires.
May 20 – Ballot papers and envelopes should be delivered to polling stations no later than 12 hours before the elections.
May 21 – Polling day; polling stations open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
May 29 – Deadline expires for party/bloc that wins, according to early official results, to submit election campaign funds.
May 31 – District Election Commissions should summarize results.
June 4 – Repeat elections or second round of elections should be held if necessary in certain election districts. Law stipulates that a majoritarian MP candidate winning more than others and more than 30% of the vote would be declared the outright winner in the first round without the need for a runoff.
June 8 – Deadline expires for the CEC to announce final election results.
July 20 – Repeat elections should be held if elections are invalidated.
