A considerable number of Qatari citizens visited the voting registration centres for the upcoming Central Municipal Council (CMC) elections to make sure that their names were included on the preliminary lists of voters announced recently.
The preliminary lists were announced through big screens set up at the electoral headquarters located in every constituency. The Ministry of Interior then announced opening the doors for people to submit appeals and grievances regarding voter registration, which will continue until May 11.
Speaking to local Arabic daily 'Arrayah', Judge Khalid bin Mohamed al-Shareem, head of the appeals and grievances committee in constituency 16, said the the committee is receiving appeals and grievances from citizens from 4pm to 7pm every day until Thursday, while the decisions on these will be taken on May 18.
Hisham Mohamed Ali, a member of the committee, said there is a unified form for submitting appeals and grievances to the committee. The applicant has to fill in the necessary information and sign on it before submitting the document to the panel, which, in turn, will refer it to the supervisory committee.
Meanwhile, a number of citizens have continued to express their demands and hopes from the new council, stressing the need to enhance and upgrade many public services.
Rashid al-Hajri, from constituency 16, said infrastructure in his area in Bani Hajar lacks some upgrades and needs to be enhanced with more pavements, lighting and public gardens due to the increasing number of inhabitants there. He said the area also needs a new health centre.
Saeed Rashid al-Khayareen, also from constituency 16, said public services in the area have seen considerable development, expressing hope that the newly elected CMC member for the area will continue with such efforts and work closely with the authorities concerned to build on such achievements.
Ali al-Khayareen, another citizen, said all voters have high hopes that the polls will result in the election of the most qualified candidates who will offer inhabitants of the country public services that improve their lives and cope with the increasing number of inhabitants.
