RIYADH, 30 November 2004 — More than 25,000 Saudi men have registered at polling stations in the Riyadh region until Sunday, according to Muhammad Al-Naqadi, a spokesman of municipal elections in the region.
“We will announce the complete list of voters registered at various polling stations within a few days,” he told a press conference here. He said some 400 people had registered on the first day.
The Kingdom’s first-ever nationwide municipal elections will be held in three phases from Feb. 10 to pick half the members of 176 municipal councils.
Naqadi highlighted the role of municipal councils in improving the efficiency of municipalities, developing municipal services and proposing useful projects.
“The municipal councils will supervise all municipal activities including cleaning, organization and beautification of residential districts,” he explained.
The spokesman said the number of polling stations would be fixed after the registration process is completed and would be on the basis of the number of voters in various parts of the region. He said the elections would not be supervised by UN observers, adding that UN experts have already endorsed the election bylaw and arrangements.
There is good cooperation between the election committees and the Education Ministry and the polls will see the use of schools as polling stations and teachers as election supervisors.
He said the councils will have a bylaw, which will specify the remunerations to be received by their members.
He urged candidates to strictly follow the period for campaigning as specified by the law. “The campaigns must be conducted individually,” he said, adding that candidates are not allowed to buy votes.
The ministry has specified the areas where candidates can put posters and pictures. The election committee will have the right to remove any posters or photos installed in violation of the regulations.
Candidates can use newspapers and magazines for campaigning and hold meetings with voters. “They can also give lectures and hold seminars during the campaigning period,” he added. However, they should get prior permission from the supervising committee for holding such programs.
Candidates are allowed to make use of specialized companies to help in their campaigns. “Candidates are not allowed to make any election promises beyond the authority of a municipal council member,” he added.
