West Bank Palestinians are preparing for local elections on April 25, but many voters express little enthusiasm amid political restrictions and the ongoing impact of war in Gaza. Nearly 1.5 million people are registered to vote in the West Bank, with an additional 70,000 eligible voters in the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah. The vote marks the first local ballot since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.

A new electoral law issued by President Mahmud Abbas requires all candidates to endorse the charter and goals of the Palestine Liberation Organization, a move critics say has narrowed political participation. Some potential candidates have been barred from running, and in several municipalities only one list has registered, resulting in automatic victories without a vote. Many residents cite political stagnation, limited competition, and the pressures of Israeli occupation as reasons for their lack of interest.

There are no lists affiliated with the Islamist movement that governs Gaza, and most candidates are aligned with Abbas's Fatah movement or running as independents. While some reforms, such as lowering the candidacy age and increasing the quota for women, have been welcomed, critics argue that the changes also strengthen the authority of the central government.

In Gaza, voting will take place only in Deir el-Balah, chosen because much of its population has remained in place despite the war. Although a truce was reached in October 2025, large areas of Gaza remain under Israeli control, and security coordination for the vote is being handled indirectly with Israeli authorities.