Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: With an eligible 3,44,713 voters, around 73 per cent or 251,640 have used their right of franchise on Saturday for electing 40-member strong lower of the parliament and 30-member municipality council for another four years term.
This was revealed by HE Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Mua’awda, the Minister for Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments and head of High Committee for Elections for 2022 during a Press conference at the close of the polls for 2022.
The Minister said that the success of the record turnout was a culmination of the democratic march led by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa way back in 2002 and supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister.
“I congratulate the leadership and citizen to make this process a successful, smooth and objective,” the Minister said, adding that the elections were fair, free, impartial with voting continuing without interruption across the country.
Nawaf Bin Hamza, the Executive Director, said that there was no complaint received the committee and the entire process went smoothly. However, he added, any complaints from the candidates will be investigated the concerned departments and the respective ministries.
To a question, Nawaf Hamza explained, the Kingdom has the capacity and capability hold electronic voting but for that we need necessary legislation.
“We did use the electronic system to verify the voters lists and other process but going full digital elections will only be possible in future,” he added.
“There has been no untoward incident, or an interruption has been reported since the start of the polling at 8am on Saturday across the country.
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 has been 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.
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.
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.
