Qatar
CMC official highlights keenness to capitalise on technology in elections
May 09, 2023 | 09:32 PM
The Supervisory Committee of the 7th Central Municipal Council (CMC) elections has capitalized on technology to facilitate elections for voters and candidates, Director of the Ministry of Interior's (MoI) Elections Department Major General Majid Ibrahim al-Khulaifi, who is also the Supervising Committee's head, said on Tuesday.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
May 09, 2023 | 09:32 PM