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With just two weeks to go until the 17th general elections, the National Election Commission began receiving candidacy registration for two days until Thursday. Those wanting to run for one of the newly expanded 299 seats in the National Assembly must register themselves with the state election watchdog.
Competition is expected to be fierce standing at a ratio of 6 to 1. Once candidacy registration is complete, campaigning can begin in earnest from Friday. Under the revised election law, candidates can only go on stumping tours with an entourage no larger than six people including the person running for the parliamentary seat.
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As the National Election Commission begin receiving candidacy registration Wednesday, candidates from various parties hold hands, promising fair competition at the National Election Commission Office Wednesday.
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They will also be barred from treating meals and gifts to voters in which case, would result in a hefty fine of having to cough up 50 times the amount they spent, if they are caught. Parliamentary aspirants will have their military, tax and criminal records posted on the National Election Commission's homepage alongside their party policies. Any violation of stricter election laws could result in the annulment of election outcome.
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A scene from the National Election Commission. Once the candidates register, their photos and profiles pop up on the screen.
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However, even as authorities undertake a host of stepped-up measures to ensure a clean and transparent race, officials say, more than two thousand cases of irregularities have been reported between January and the end of March.
Arirang TV
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