Carter Center Releases Final Report on the April 2026 Municipal Elections in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

ATLANTA (July 20, 2026) — The Carter Center today released the final report from its technical assessment of Palestine’s April 25, 2026, elections for local authorities. It found that while the elections were well administered, due to a confluence of complex factors, the democratic process was not fully realized in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The Center’s assessment was conducted by four national experts on the ground and two international experts working remotely. Although not a formal international observation of the electoral process due to limitations in size and scope, the assessment focused on four key areas: the legal and administrative framework for the elections; the campaign, candidate nominations, and the work of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission; the degree of competitiveness and respect for participatory rights; and the implications of the elections for future electoral processes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Carter Center’s assessment found that the elections were conducted in an exceptionally difficult political, humanitarian, and economic climate; the combined impact of these factors limited democratic participation. Although the CEC administered the elections well technically, the process was impacted by the ongoing ramifications of the war in Gaza, escalating tensions in the West Bank, the continued Israeli occupation, limited competition, and a prolonged absence of national elections. Coupled with the dire conditions in Gaza and a boycott of the process by all but one political party, the democratic process was not fully realized.

Despite these challenges, the April elections represented an effort to preserve the limited avenues for democratic participation for Palestinians. The organization of local elections in the Gaza Strip for the first time since 2006, even if confined to the single municipality of Deir al-Balah, marked a symbolic step toward reviving periodic, democratic processes across Palestine and reaffirming the political and institutional connection between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The local elections are an important precursor to national legislative elections, which have been called for November 28.

Strengthening the credibility and inclusiveness of Palestinian electoral processes ahead of legislative and presidential elections will require coordinated action among national institutions, electoral authorities, political actors, and international stakeholders. Concerted efforts by these actors, including Israel and the international community, are needed to ensure that conditions are conducive to the full exercise of Palestinian political rights, credible democratic processes, and widely accepted electoral outcomes.

The Palestinian Authority should prioritize safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process by preventing interference in candidate nominations, upholding freedom of expression, and ensuring a secure environment in which all Palestinians can participate without intimidation.

Candidate nomination requirements proved contentious in the lead-up to the local elections; restrictive criteria on participation should be subject to prior consultations, aimed at reaching broad consensus among political stakeholders and respecting Palestine’s international commitments, including freedom of association. The outcomes of those consultations should be reflected in legislation to support inclusive democratic processes. While the new electoral system increases the number of seats reserved for women and expanded opportunities for women to be elected, their electoral participation should not be limited to the reserved seats.

Expanding elections, including local and national polls in Gaza where feasible, and ensuring adequate resources for the CEC also are critical to maintaining public confidence and increasing participation. Efforts should be made to ensure adequate security, including at polling locations, to enable voters to fully participate in elections. 

Background: The Carter Center’s team met with individuals and groups in the West Bank and Gaza in person and online, including CEC staff, Palestinian Authority officials, candidates from various lists and parties, and representatives of leading Palestinian civil society organizations to conduct the assessment. Experts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories conducted field visits in the Deir al-Balah municipality in the Gaza Strip and in municipalities and villages across the West Bank. The Carter Center extends its thanks to the United Nations Development Programme for its generous support of this work.

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Contact:  media@cartercenter.org 

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