13 Aug 2007

Marshall Islanders to put names forward this week to stand in elections

10:45 am on 13 August 2007

The Marshall Islands electoral office will this week begin taking the names of Marshall Islanders wanting to stand in this year's national and local elections.

The office is starting to release information for potential candidates, postal ballots, and voting in the 2007 national and local government representatives.

The chief electoral officer, Karl Alik, says potential candidates can submit their names from Wednesday and have until September 19.

Mr Alik says the official list of candidates for the elections will be released on October 5.

He says the date for this year's elections is November 19th, and there is a lot of work to do as the country is made up of twenty-nine atolls and five isolated islands.

"I am planning a head of time as time is running out and we need to get organised prior to then."

Mr Alik says he is keen to expand the number of polling stations from 86 to up to 150 to make it easier for those living off island.