The decision by some oppositions parties to boycott Sudan's first multi-party elections raises concerns over the credibility of the elections [AFP]

 11 April 2010 sees the start of first multi-party national elections in 24 years

 12 presidential candidates representing 10 political parties with two independents contesting the election

 11 of the candidates are Muslims

 1 is a Christian Southerner

 1 is a woman

 50 is the percentage of total votes needed to win the presidential race 

 450 seats available for the national assembly

 2,000 candidates for the national assembly

 250 of whom are independent candidates

 72 registered political parties

 8 ballots in northern states of Sudan

 12 ballots in southern states of Sudan

 15,700,000 registered voters (81% of all eligible voters)

 10,335 polling centres in the northern Sudan

 5,748 polling centres in southern Sudan

 16,083 polling centres in total across the country

 21,000 polling centres originally planned 

 1,200 voters expected for each polling station in the north

 1,000 voters expected for each polling station in the south

 7 staff at each polling station in the south

 250,000 accredited local and international election observers

 171 seats available for southern Sudan legislative assembly

 48 seats available for state assemblies, except Khartoum and Southern Kordofan

 84 seats available for the Khartoum state assembly

 54 seats available for the southern Kordofan state Assembly

 15 seats for western Darfur province where most Darfur war victims took refuge

 24 seats given to northern Darfur, considered a stronghold of the ruling party