Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: The Kingdom of Bahrain has established yet another global benchmark for holding, fair, free and impartial elections on Saturday with no untoward incident, or an interruption has been reported since the start of the polling at 8am on Saturday across the country.
With an eligible 3,44,000 voters, this year Bahrain has recorded the highest number of candidates as 561 and 176 candidates are vying for 40 and 30 seats for the lower house of the parliament and for the municipal council, respectively.
There was a record number of candidates for both parliamentary and municipality elections, an increase of 20 per cent compared to 2018. The indicators show that the turnout is likely to be even higher in 2022 from 67 per cent in 2018.
According to the Bahrain Center for Strategic Studies (Derasat) survey, the turnout to be expected between 63 poer cent to 69 per cent.
The polling kicked off at 8am across the country and will close by 8pm without any interruption, with people within the polling station premises will be allowed even after the closing time.
Hamad Al Ghallaf, head of the committee/ polling station at Oqaba Bin Nafea Primary Boys School at Riffa told The24X7News Bahrain (www.twentyfoursevennews.com) that in line with the instructions of the Ministry of Justice’s higher committee for elections, the polling will be closed at 8pm sharp, however, the people reaching at the polling station’s premises will be allowed to cast their ballot even after the closing time.
“We have a trained staff, and the counting of the ballots will be started immediately after the closing and results will be compiled without delay. Arrangements have been made to provide all facilities to the voters including women who want to use the right of franchise,” he said, adding that the results will be ready following the results coming from 37 diplomatic missions of Bahrain abroad.
HE Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Maawda, the Minister for Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments and High Committee Chairman has issued directions to make polling smooth in transparent, secure, and lawful manners.
Nawaf Abdulla Hamza Chairman of High Committee for Elections earlier said the fair and free electioneering process was a culmination of the vision of His Majesty King which paved the way for holding the first parliamentary elections in the Kingdom in 2002. The runoff elections are set for November 19th, 2022.
