(Seychelles News Agency) - Political campaigns aiming to capture parliamentary seats in the September 8-10 elections in Seychelles began Wednesday evening after the Electoral Commission validated the registration of candidates who submitted documentation earlier on nomination day.

The commission issued certificates to four political parties: Parti Lepep, Seychelles Patriotic Movement, Lafors Sosyal Demokratik and Linyon Demokratik Seselwa.

Certificates were also issued to three independent candidates: Danny Sopha, Georgie Prudence and Ralph Volcere.

In all some 100 candidates will stand in the upcoming polls, which are divided into 25 electoral districts.

Three weeks of campaigning lie ahead before seychellois voters head to the polls on September 8,9 and 10. (Rassin Vannier Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

The September vote is setting out to be one of the most contested legislative elections since the 1993 return of multiparty democracy in Seychelles, a 115-island archipelago in the Indian Ocean with a population of around 93,000.

The raising of billboards across the country Wednesday evening has set the stage for three weeks of campaigning culminating with three days of voting. 

The Chief Electoral Officer Joseph Athanasius told SNA that "political parties can now start their election campaign and next week their names as well as the voting stations will be published in the official gazette.”

Lots were also drawn on Wednesday to determine the order in which candidates will appear on the ballot papers, as well as the order in which they will present their political programmes on national radio and television.

Photo showing the order in which candidates will appear on the ballot papers. (Rassin Vannier Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

The Electoral Commission says it has already started preparing the logistics for the polls. This includes making contact with international observers to finalize the details pertaining to their presence in Seychelles to observe the elections.