The Palestinian Central Elections Commission has begun reviewing objections submitted against electoral lists and individual candidates ahead of local council elections scheduled for 25 April. Officials say the process forms part of the legal scrutiny carried out during the candidate registration phase, a step aimed at ensuring compliance with electoral regulations before campaigning formally begins.

According to the commission, 58 objections were filed during the review period. Of these, 18 concerned entire electoral lists, while the remaining 40 targeted individual candidates. After examining the documentation submitted with each complaint, the commission approved one objection related to an electoral list and one involving an individual candidate, while the remaining submissions were rejected.

Election officials said the objections largely centred on technical and legal requirements linked to candidate eligibility. These included issues such as financial clearance documentation, confirmation of resignation from certain public positions and judicial rulings that may affect a candidate’s legal standing to run for office.

Under the electoral process, individuals or lists affected by these decisions retain the right to appeal before the specialised Election Cases Court. The court is expected to review and rule on all appeals by 29 March, after which the final roster of approved electoral lists and candidates will be confirmed.

The commission plans to publish the definitive list of candidates on 31 March, marking the final step before campaigning intensifies ahead of the April vote. The elections are viewed by many Palestinian observers as a key moment for local governance structures, taking place amid wider political challenges affecting Palestinian institutions.