Speaking with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Major General al-Khulaifi said that SMSes replaced all paper receipts for various applications. He added that SMSes as a notification method for voters and candidates without the need to visit the polling stations.
The committee made it possible to submit an electronic voter registration application through Metrash2 app, and to inquire about electoral registration through Metrash2 app or through the MoI portal, in addition to providing a barcode to locate polling stations, al-Khulaifi added.
He added that the current law regulating the CMC elections does not allow an electronic vote casting and tabulation, voicing hopes for the appropriate legal amendments to expand the use of electronic technologies in the next elections. He also highlighted all the election phases -- preparation, voter registration, candidate registration, election campaigns, up to the voting day on which the votes will be tabulated and election results announced.
Al-Khulaifi reiterated the conditions stipulated by law for eligible voters as follow:
- They must have an original Qatari nationality or have obtained it more than 15 years ago;
- They must be above 18 years old on May 4, 2023;
- They have not been previously convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, unless they have been rehabilitated;
- They must be residing in the constituency where they have the right to vote, must not be affiliates of the armed forces or the police
The conditions, according to al-Khulaifi, also stipulate that a candidate must not have been previously convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, unless they have been rehabilitated; they permanently live and be on the voter lists in the constituency in which they are running for elections; and that they should not be affiliates of the Ministry of Defense or the MOI or any other military agency.
Every constituency has three voting stations, one of which is dedicated to receiving voter registration applications, verifying the required voter conditions, and approving the final voter lists, he said. Maj Gen al-Khulaifi added that the second committee, known as Election Committee, receives candidate applications, verifies the prerequisite and approves the final candidate lists, in addition to monitoring the votes casting and counting as well as election results announcement.
The third committee examines appeals and grievances submitted to it at various election phases, he added. Maj Gen al-Khulaifi urged citizens to exercise their right to vote as the key index to measure the election success. Voters are invited to exercise their rights and responsibly participate in selecting their CMC representatives, he added.
