25 Sep 2019

Parliamentary and council candidates will tomorrow file their candidacy nominations at their respective constituencies or designated nomination centres of their polling districts.

In an interview, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) principal public relations officer, Mr Osupile Maroba said following nominations, IEC would compile candidates’ information including their symbols and voting colours in order to print ballot papers.

He said printing of ballot papers would pave way for elections by  external voters on October 12 at 36 polling stations, while officials’ advance voting will take place on October 19.

Mr Maroba said both MPs and council candidates were expected to bring nine people who comprise a proposer, a seconder and seven supporters.

“All those supporting nominations should be in voters’ roll of that polling district or designated nomination centres within the constituency with validly registered names,” he said.

Mr Maroba noted that candidates who represented parties should provide proof from the party that they had been allowed to use party symbols and colours.

He said council candidates were required to pay a nomination fee of P100 while MPs pay P500 at revenue offices at the districts or they may bring cash to nomination centres where revenue officers would be present.

He said nominations would be received at the nomination or counting centres between 9am and 1pm and from 2:30pm to 5pm.

For independent candidates, he said they should bring a letter from IEC that authorises them to use a certain colour and symbol.

He emphasized that a supporter, proposer or seconder, could not nominate more than one candidates.

On other issues, Mr Maroba said IEC was steadfast in preparing for the October 23 elections, where candidates were expected to battle it out for the 57 parliamentary seats and 490 council seats countrywide. Ends