Seven candidates contested the election. Abbas won over 67% of the votes cast, independent candidate Mustafa Barghouti came second with 21%, and the remaining candidates were far behind.[3] The election was boycotted by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Hamas urged supporters to stay away, but did not try to disrupt the election. In the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is strongest, it is estimated that about half of the eligible voters voted.
No presidential elections have taken place since 2005. Abbas has continued in office since the expiration of the four-year term on 9 January 2009,[4] with planned elections repeatedly postponed.