RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Central Elections Commission said Sunday that vote-counting had concluded in local elections held a day earlier.

Voting took place in 24 municipalities that did not take part in October elections. In another 23 municipalities, seats were awarded to uncontested joint lists.

Preliminary results were announced at a news conference in Ramallah. Council seats were distributed to winning lists according to the Sainte-Laguë method, the CEC said in a statement.

CEC chairman Hanna Nasir said 2 percent of ballots were blank and 4 percent were invalid.

The CEC said it had reviewed complaints submitted by observers but decided the complaints bore no influence on the results.

Anyone wishing to contest the results must do so within one week, the CEC added.