The Electoral Commission has opened the nominations for parliamentary and presidential candidates ahead of the 2020 general elections.

At a press conference on Monday, EC Chairperson Jean Mensa announced that the forms, for the first time in the country’s history, will be available to applicants online as a measure to adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols.

Interested parties and persons can pick nomination forms from 6 pm, Monday, September 15.

The forms are to be filled and submitted between October 5 and October 9.

In their bid to ensure the integrity of the process, the forms, Madam Jean Mensa said the forms are protected by passwords which will be given to respective party officials.

Presidential candidates wishing to contest the 2020 general election will be required to pay a filing fee of ¢100,000 while parliamentary candidates will pay ¢10,000, EC Chair, Jean Mensa added.

The nomination forms of the presidential candidates are to be submitted to the chairperson of the EC who is the returning officer for the presidential elections. 

The commission will receive filled out nomination forms from the candidates between the hours of 9 am and 12 noon and 2 pm and 5 pm each day.

"The forms are to be submitted in quadruplicates. The forms shall be submitted at the headquarters of the EC by candidates or their supporters."

"In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the commissions have limited the number of persons to submit the forms at the headquarters or district offices. So, five persons per candidate.”

The forms for the parliamentary candidates shall be submitted "to the returning officer of the constituency to which the candidate seeks election at the district office of the electoral commission."