DUSHANBE, November 4, 2013, Asia-Plus -- An election silence will be declared in Tajikistan tomorrow prior to the 2013 presidential election that will take place on November 6. 

Election silence, pre-election silence, electoral silence, or campaign silence is a ban on political campaigning prior to a presidential or general election.  An election silence operates in the country to allow a period for voters to reflect on events before casting their votes.

“During this period no active campaigning by the candidates is allowed and media are prohibited from releasing materials in support of any of candidates,” Abdumannon Dodoyev, the head of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) told Asia-Plus in an interview.    

“Meanwhile, agitation materials calling on the population to participate in voting process and explanatory materials on rules and places of voting are not banned in Tajikistan during the election silence period,” Dodoyev added.

Six candidates have officially registered for the 2013 presidential election that will take place on November 6.  In addition to the incumbent President Emomali Rahmon, they are Tolibbek Bukhoriyev from the Agrarian Party; Olim Boboyev from the Party of Economic Reforms; Ismoil Talbakov from the Communist Party; Abduhalim Ghafforov from the Socialist Party; and Saidjaffar Ismonov from the Democratic Party.