NEC sets November 29 opening date for candidate nominations ahead of 2027 elections
The National Elections Commission (NEC) has scheduled November 29, 2026, as the start of the nomination process for candidates seeking elective positions in South Sudan’s February 2027 general elections.
According to the commission’s revised electoral calendar, the nomination process will begin with the publication of nomination signature forms, giving prospective candidates 15 days to collect the required signatures.
The signature collection period will run from Sunday, November 29, to Sunday, December 13, 2026.
The commission has subsequently scheduled the formal submission of candidate nomination applications for December 14 to December 20, giving aspirants seven days to submit their applications.
The list of nominated candidates will then be published on December 21, 2026, and remain open for public scrutiny for seven days until December 27.
Objections and verification of nominations
The revised timetable provides a seven-day window, from December 28, 2026, to January 3, 2027, for objections to be submitted to the National Elections Commission regarding nominated candidates.
Following the objection period, the commission has allocated another seven days, from January 4 to January 10, 2027, for corrections or rejection of nomination applications.
The process will then proceed to the Supreme Court, which has been allocated seven days, from January 11 to January 17, to make decisions on nomination-related matters.
The commission has set Monday, January 18, 2027, as the date for publishing the final list of candidates who will contest the general elections.
Campaign period
The publication of the final candidates’ list will be followed by the official election campaign period, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, December 27, 2026, and run for 45 days until Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
A one-day silent period will follow on Wednesday, February 10, ahead of polling on Thursday, February 11, 2027.
The revised electoral calendar outlines the nomination, objections, verification and final approval stages that prospective candidates must go through before being cleared to participate in the elections.
The February 2027 elections are expected to be South Sudan’s first general elections since independence in 2011.
