Palestinian Authority Opens Candidate Registration for November 28 Legislative Elections, First in Twenty Years

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission opened candidate registration on Saturday, September 26, 2026, for the November 28 legislative elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to Anadolu Agency, Bernama, and The Times of Israel. The commission began receiving candidacy applications at 0500 GMT at its headquarters in Al-Bireh, West Bank, and its office in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, with the registration process continuing for 12 days through October 7. According to the commission, candidates will run only through electoral lists of between 16 and 132 candidates, with individual candidacies not permitted, and each list must meet legal requirements including female representation as required by Palestinian Authority law.

This marks the first legislative vote since 2006, when Hamas won a surprise victory that led to the internal Palestinian rift and the dissolution of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2018 by the Supreme Constitutional Court. On July 9, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree setting November 28 as the election date in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank, and Gaza Strip. Election campaigning will begin November 6, with early voting for security forces on November 26, general voting on November 28, and initial results announced within 24 hours after preparation. Multiple obstacles remain unresolved, including whether Israel will allow Palestinians to vote in occupied East Jerusalem and whether the vote can genuinely proceed in conflict-affected Gaza. The elections represent a high-stakes test of democratic legitimacy for the Palestinian Authority under intense international and domestic pressure following the October 2025 US-brokered ceasefire and ongoing debates over governance structures for a future Palestinian state.

Sources

Sources: Anadolu Agency (AA), Bernama, The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera (earlier reporting on election announcement), Time, Doha Institute. Information verified across multiple outlets covering the Central Elections Commission statement issued September 26, 2026.