The activities for presidential elections scheduled for October 22 began, and it is now possible to express support for a chosen candidate by signatures. The large parliamentary parties have not yet introduced their candidates.
From now on citizens can express their support for one of the candidates by signature at the administrative units. The director of the National Electoral commission (DVK) Dušan Vučko explained that these activities must end on September 27, at closing time of the administrative unit office, which is also the deadline for filing a candidacy.
September 21 is also an important date, especially for those who will have temporary residence abroad on election day. "Such voters must inform the National Electoral Commission not later than midnight of September 21, 2017 – but the commission must receive the notice by that time, it is not enough to send it before the deadline. It must be received by the commission until the mentioned deadline," Vučko explained.
And the deadline for announcing the list of candidates by the National Electoral Commission who will compete on October 22? "The deadline for announcing candidates is 15 days before the election day, namely October 6. Naturally, we will do our best to announce the list of candidates much earlier, but it should be understood that the National Electoral Commission has to verify the filed candidacies, reject those illicit ones, and confirm the adequate candidacies, and only then it will be possible to announce the list of candidates," the head of DVK explained.
The National Electoral Commission has also set the date for the possible second round of the elections – November 12. "The voters will decide whether the second round will be necessary."
The large parliamentary parties like SMC party and SDS party are still waiting with introductions of theirs candidates, and only NSi party has already announced the intention of trying their strength with Ljudmila Novak against Borut Pahor.

Tomaž Celestina, Radio Slovenija; Translated by G. K.