Shura Council seats will be contested by 490 candidates in elections slated for June, the Supreme Electoral Commission has announced. Intissar Nassim, chairman of the commission, said in a press conference yesterday that 490 of the 575 who submitted applications will run in the upcoming elections. The commission has turned down 48 applications, and another 24 withdrew their applications, Nassim said. The commission expect the number of candidates to drop even further as some runners may decide to withdraw before the 20 May. Nassim said the final slates of candidates are now available at all security directorates nationwide and all candidates are entitled to request a CD containing the list of candidates for a fee of LE100. The final list, said Nassim, will be announced on 21 May. The electoral commission's administrative branches at courts, along with governors, will monitor candidates' commitment to rules on election campaigning, said Nassim, who warned that violations will result in a fine, imprisonment, or confiscation of campaign material. Election rules ban the use of slogans which are religious in nature or advocate gender or racial discrimination. Rules also prohibit procuring foreign funds and influencing the voters' will. Nassim noted that punishment for those who threaten or assault commission members or try to influence them in carrying out their duties is a five-year prison sentence, while attempts to influence voters, either through threats or by offering benefits, will be punished by six months in prison and a fine ranging between LE500 and LE1000. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
