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ON Saturday 318,668 Bahraini citizens will be able to cast their vote at the country's parliamentary and municipal elections, writes Anasuya Kesavan.
Yesterday 1,195 of their countrymen abroad were able to join in the democratic process at 30 overseas embassies and diplomatic missions.
Together they will be electing representatives to the lower house of the bicameral parliament, the Majlis al Nuwab or Council of Representatives, and to the municipal councils responsible for local civic matters such as planning permission, infrastructure maintenance and urban regeneration.
It is the third public election since the introduction of the National Action Charter of Bahrain in 2001, which will see 140 candidates vying for 40 seats in the parliament to represent constituencies in the kingdom's eight governorates.
Five of them - independents Abdulla Al Dossary, Latifa Al Gaoud and Khamis Al Rumaihi; Abduljalil Khalil representing Al Wefaq, Bahrain's largest society, and Shaikh Adel Al Ma'awada, lawmaker for Al Asala, the Salafi group, have been elected unopposed to their constituencies.
To win candidates must secure 50 per cent or more of the total votes in their constituency.
In the last elections, which saw a 72 per cent turnout, Al Wefaq won 17 seats, Al Asalah Society took eight seats; Islamic Minbar Society bagged seven seats and Mustabal (Future) Bloc and independents won four seats each in the parliament.
The municipal elections will see 181 candidates compete for 40 seats. Citizens of Gulf countries who are residents of Bahrain and foreign nationals who own property here are also permitted to vote.
Supported by a team of civil servants, the Elections Executive Committee, headed by Judge Abdulla Albuainain and chief public prosecutor and elections executive director Nawaf Al Ma'awadah, are preparing and implementing all logistical requirements for a smooth elections process. This includes setting up of supervisory centres, polling centres, recruitment, staff training, IT and media support.
Speaking to GulfWeekly on the eve of the elections, Mr Al Ma'awadah, 34, said: "We face the same challenges as all countries that hold democratic elections.
"We are doing everything possible to ensure that Bahrain's elections operate to the highest standards.
"The safety and impartiality of the election is safeguarded by the comprehensive independent judicial supervision over all aspects of the electoral process and we have made every effort to make these elections as transparent as possible.
"There will be security around the premises of the polling stations, however, security forces will not be allowed into the premises unless requested by the judge in charge of the polling station."
Over 290 national NGO monitors have been deployed at the polling centres. Each candidate has nominated an 'agent' to represent them in the supervisory committee in each constituency and they will be present during the voting and counting period. United Nations approved transparent ballot boxes - green for municipal and red for parliamentary elections - are being used for the first time.
Over 1,400 volunteers will be deployed to provide support and assistance on the day when journalists will be able to cover the voting and counting process. Webcams will be streamed live from the polling stations on the www.vote.bh website.
Along with the polling and sorting centre in each constituency there are an additional 10 general polling centres that all voters can use across the country. These are located in convenient locations including public spaces such as Bahrain City Centre Mall, Bahrain International Airport, BDF Military Hospital, Child and Mother's Welfare Society to allow as many people to cast their vote as possible.
Polling stations are equipped with access ramps, lowered polling booths and support staff to provide assistance to voters with special needs.
Polling stations will close at 8pm and counting will begin immediately afterwards.
