What The Law Says About Deadline For Submission of Nomination Papers

Political parties aspiring to run for the September 30, 2013 municipal and legislative elections have to start submitting nomination papers of their candidates to the elections and referenda governing institution, Elections Cameroon, ELECAM.

Deadline

Section 164 (1) of the Electoral Code pertaining to legislative elections and Section 181 (I) concerning municipal elections all specify that candidatures shall be submitted within 15 days from the convening of the electorate. The nomination papers must bear the legalized signature of candidates. Considering that the electorate was convened on July 2, 2013, the deadline to submit the candidatures is certainly Wednesday, July 17, 2013 by midnight.

Where to Submit

For legislative elections, paragraph 2 of Section 164 of the Electoral Code states that, "Such nomination paper shall be submitted and registered, against a receipt, at the General Directorate of Elections or at the divisional branch of Elections Cameroon of the constituency concerned. A copy thereof shall immediately be sent to the Constitutional Council by the candidate or his representative, against acknowledgement of receipt."

Concerning municipal election, Section 181 (1) of the Electoral Code further specifies that the nomination paper is made out in three copies, bearing the legalized signature of the candidates and submitted at the council branch of Elections Cameroon against a receipt.

Content

Nomination papers for both municipal and legislative elections have almost identical elements:

-the full name, date and place of birth, filiation and occupation of the candidates;

-the name of the list and the political party sponsoring such list;

-the symbol elected for the purpose of printing ballot papers or of identifying the party;

-the name of the representative of the list, whether he is a candidate or not, and the address of his residence;

-evidence of representation of sociological components of the constituency in drawing up the list;

-Evidence of consideration of gender aspects in drawing up the list.

Any emblem comprising all of the following three colours: green, red, yellow shall be forbidden.