By Ayman Adly /Staff Reporter
Nearly 50-60% of more than 21,000 Qataris, who had registered as voters for the fifth round of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) elections, exercised their right of franchise yesterday.
Elections were held in 26 constituencies, out of a total of 29, with 114 candidates in the fray. One candidate each was elected unopposed earlier from constituencies one, 27 and 28. Women outnumbered men in the queues at the polling centres.
“The voting process, held from 8am to 5pm, was hassle-free for the voters, candidates and organisers,” Brigadier Salim Saqr al-Muraikhi, director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and head of the Legal Committee of the Elections, told Gulf Times.
“A voting percentage of between 50 to 60% is considered good globally,” he observed. “It is the duty of every citizen to cast his or her vote and be part of such a democratic process,” said Hamad al-Qayid, a voter who had come with his two children to cast his vote.
Many candidates were of the view that the turnout was “low and even disappointing,” especially in constituency 11, which covers Ain Khalid and the surrounding areas.
“The timing should have been extended until 7 or 9pm, to allow voters to come after their jobs and errands,” felt Yusuf al-Mutawa, a candidate.Abdulla Salem al-Khuwar, a candidate in constituency 11, attributed the low turnout of voters “to the limited role of the CMC.”
“I have informed people about my limitations, as a potential CMC member, during the campaigning process. I have been honest with them and I feel that the member should do more and more follow-up and communication with both the authorities and inhabitants. The council should be given more powers eventually to be more effective, as its recommendations are not binding now,” said al-Khuwar.
Candidate Tariq al-Sulaiti, admitted that women constitute a considerable voting power, but said it is not easy to reach out to them, or even get their contacts due to some cultural limitations.
He said that the government should have done an intensive promotion campaign through all means of media, ahead of the voting, to encourage people to go out and vote.
“Anyway, I have benefited greatly from this experience. It has been very rewarding regardless of the results and I would continue my endeavours to push forward for developments in the area,” he stressed.
Candidate Ahmed al-Badr, suggested that the voting day should have been declared a national holiday, to give people free time to vote. Alternatively, the timing should be split into two shifts, with the second shifting ending at 10pm.
The candidates were seated beside each other to oversee the voting process. The dominant atmosphere was of respect and friendship, and the process was carried out in a transparent manner.
Qataris queuing up to vote in the CMC elections yesterday.
