BEIJING, Jan. 7 -- The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has excluded officials as candidates from the latest round of academician elections in a bid to reduce interference.

The CAS has made it clear that civil servants and Party officials are disqualified as candidates, said a CAS statement on Wednesday.

Previously, government departments were allowed to recommend candidates to the CAS. This year, only current academicians and academic institutions are able to recommend.

These measures are considered an effort by the CAS to maintain an independent procedure and ensure that new academicians are scientists with outstanding academic achievements.

The CAS plans to elect the maximum 65 academicians during this round of elections. Nomination procedures started on Jan. 1.

According to the rules, each academician may recommend a maximum of three candidates. To qualify as a candidate, a scientist needs at least three references, including two from his or her own research area.

If a scientist is older than 65, he or she will need at least six references.

Voting procedures have also changed. Previously, academicians from a given research division voted to elect the division's new members. This year, voting will be held among all CAS academicians, regardless of research specialty.

A candidate will need more than half of the CAS academicians' votes to be elected.