DUSHANBE, October 7, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) has extended the signature collection period for three days.

“The signature collection period expired today but following the request by the Communist, Socialist and Democratic parties, the CCER has agreed to extend the signature collection period until 6:00 pm of October 10,” Abdumannon Dodoyev the head of the CCER’s office, said on October 7.

“Today, two political parties – the People’s Democratic and Socialist parties – submitted the gathered signatures to the CCER,” Dodoyev noted.

He added that in 1999, the period of collecting signatures to support presidential nominees was extended twice.

Under the presidential election law, nominated candidates are required to support their candidature with signatures from 5 per cent of the electorate within a 20-day period.

Many experts say the high number of signatures, in combination with a short period of time, present significant obstacles to registering as a candidate.  The Communist and Democratic parties asked the CCER to extend the signature collection period.

Seven presidential nominees have been nominated by different political parties and other groups to run in the 2013 presidential election scheduled for November 6.