251 lists submitted on 1st day of candidacy submissions for municipal elections in Tunisia

TUNIS, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- A total of 251 candidate lists were submitted on the first day of submissions for the municipal elections in Tunisia scheduled on May 6, the Independent Higher Authority for Elections (ISIE) said Friday.

"Among these lists, 163 are from political parties and 88 independents, submitted in 169 constituencies out of a total of 350 constituencies," said ISIE member Nabil Baffoun.

The two electoral districts of northeastern Nabeuland and central-eastern Mahdia marked the highest rate of applications (both 21 percent), Baffoun noted.

According to him, each list includes between 12 and 60 members, and each submission requires about 30 minutes to four hours to process.

About 70 percent of the total population, or 5.3 million registered voters, are entitled to vote, with 47 percent of voters being women, according to ISIE figures.

Meanwhile, 37 percent of the voters are more than 41 years old, and 33 percent between 18 and 35.

Among those registered on the electoral lists for the Tunisian municipal elections, 0.67 percent are soldiers and security agents, who will vote on April 29, a week before the official voting day. Enditem