The Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has officially announced that the collection of citizen sponsorships will begin on July 1, 2025, and end on August 26, 2025.
The information was shared by the Vice President of the CEI, Alain Dogou, during a press conference he held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the institution’s headquarters in Abidjan-Cocody. He recalled that, in accordance with Article 2 of the decree outlining the procedures for this crucial stage, all candidates for the highest office must collect the required signatures across the national territory within this two-month period.

"Since June 17, 2025, CEI supervising commissioners have been touring the country’s regions to raise awareness among the population about the practical arrangements for the collection process," he stated. In support of this, a first training session was held on June 23 for the central coordinators and regional collectors designated by potential candidates.

Each aspirant to the presidency was allowed to mandate two representatives for training, who are in turn responsible for training the teams that will meet with voters to collect signatures. "These training sessions will not stop there. The CEI has scheduled additional sessions every Thursday starting July 3, provided that candidates submit their list of collectors on time," he explained.

He went on to say that in the regions and departments, CEI technical agents have also been trained to supervise operations, support collectors, and ensure the smooth conduct of the process. The goal is to facilitate this eligibility requirement, which is now a mandatory step to validate a presidential candidacy. This is the second time that sponsorship has been implemented within the Ivorian electoral framework.

"While the CEI manages the logistics of the collection, it is the Constitutional Council that is responsible for verifying and validating the sponsorships. The Electoral Commission therefore plays a role of transmission and support, without interfering in the final decision on the admissibility of candidacies," Mr. Dogou clarified.

In his remarks, Alain Dogou reassured the public about the neutrality and inclusiveness of the process. "All candidates, without distinction, will receive the necessary equipment, documents, and technical support. The CEI also calls on the population, and especially voters, to warmly welcome the signature collectors who will be canvassing neighborhoods and villages starting July 1," concluded the Vice President of the body in charge of organizing elections in Côte d’Ivoire.