Candidates in Haiti's elections no longer have to prove that their assets are free from sanctions imposed by a foreign country, under a new rule from the Provisional Electoral Council. Politicians sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council are still barred from running, the Associated Press reported.

According to an official document made public on Thursday, October 8, candidates no longer need a certificate from the Bank of the Republic of Haiti confirming that they are not under an asset freeze. They must still submit other documents, including proof of any criminal record.

Well-known politicians sanctioned by the United States, Canada or the European Union include former President Michel Martelly and former Senate President Youri Latortue. Neither has publicly announced plans to run. The Security Council has sanctioned nine Haitians, nearly all gang leaders, along with Prophane Victor, a former lawmaker long accused of arming gangs.

Critics say the change removes a safeguard. Michael Deibert, an author of books about Haiti, said the rules show no effort to block candidates “credibly linked” to wrongdoing. Former Prime Minister Evans Paul wrote on X on Friday that “by constantly altering the rules, the authorities have sabotaged the very process they claimed to be organizing.”

The change comes the same week a report to the Security Council detailed ties between gangs and political and economic figures and warned of a surge in violence before the vote.

More than 784,000 voters are now enrolled in a country of more than 12 million people. Only 58,695 of them are registered in the Artibonite, Haiti's second-largest electoral district and one hit hard by gang violence this year.

A preliminary online tally by the council shows 13 presidential hopefuls, 282 Senate candidates, 929 candidates for the lower house and 755 for mayor. The figures are not an official list. Registration closes October 31, and the vote is still officially set for December 13.