AKB48 Discusses Details Regarding 5th Senbatsu General Election

AKB48 has revealed details regarding the upcoming, 5th annual Senbatsu General Election, changing the format of the election from years past.
The ceremony announcing the Senbatsu members will be held on June 8th at Nissan Stadium. That day, the girls will be holding a live concert, titled "AKB48 Super Festival ~Nissan Stadium, Chicchee! Chicchakunaishi!!~", at the venue, comprising the first half of the events for the day. After the concert is over, the results of the Senbatsu General Election will be revealed.
Unlike years past, not every member of the AKB family will automatically be included in the election. Instead, qualifying members will have to formally enter the election as candidates, allowing girls who don't want to participate the ability to do so.
Girls can qualify to become candidates in the election by being current members of AKB48, SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48, being in an overseas sister group after previously being a member of AKB48, and in a surprising revelation, former members who have already graduated but were with the AKB family for more than 4 years will also qualify.
The deadline for qualifying girls to enter to become candidates in the election will be April 7th at midnight. Applications will start being accepted on March 31st.
The elections for the 5th Senbatsu General Election will be held from May 21st to June 7th. Ballots for the election will be included in AKB48's 31st single which will go on sale on May 22nd. Fan club members and mobile members will also get to vote in the election.