Presidential Election 2006-The race is on |08 July 2006

Campaigning officially started on Thursday afternoon, and the districts soon filled with party activists climbing telephone poles to put up pictures of the three candidates (and their running mates) contesting this year's election –  SPPF’s James Michel (and running mate  Joseph Belmont), SNP’s Wavel Ramkalawan (and running mate Annette Georges) and the independent candidate, Philip Boulle (and running mate Henry Naiken).

The formal start to the presidential election campaign followed the registration of the three candidates on Thursday at the National Library, a process overseen by the Electoral Commissioner, Hendrick Gappy.

In a bid to guarantee the smooth running of the campaign period, the Electoral Commission has produced a set of regulations to bolster the Elections Act.

According to Mr Gappy, the new regulations were previously covered by an informal agreement between politicians competing in elections, but, in order to stop the agreement from being broken, it has now been introduced to law.

The new rules forbid the use of government vehicles to transport voters to polling stations; ban the display of political insignia by all, apart from candidates, on polling day within 50 metres of a polling station; and outlaw the painting of party political slogans on roads and walls.

The regulations also govern the size and placement of political bulletin boards and hoardings, based on discussions with the Land Transport Division.

Described by Mr Gappy as an “additional commitment”, the new regulations also establish a penalty of R20,000 or up to two years imprisonment for anybody found to be in breach of them.

The campaigning period officially ends on July 24, followed by a three-day "cooling off" period ahead of polling on July 28, 29 and 30.