ALKHOBAR, 4 March 2005 — They began lining up at 7 a.m. at polling stations across the Eastern Province. It was a historic moment and those who had been prescient enough to understand the significance of registering to vote back in January wanted to be on hand to take part in yesterday’s election for the new municipal council. Only half the council seats are being contested, with the remainder to be appointed.
The election in the Eastern Province was the second of three stages in which municipal council members are being chosen Kingdomwide. Men in Riyadh and its surrounding towns voted last month, while Western and Northern Regions will vote in April. Women are barred from standing or voting, although officials say they are planning to allow women to take part in the next elections in four years’ time.
Election officials claim that more than 206,650 voters were registered and 800 candidates were running in the Eastern Province. Another 115,000 voters were registered to fill in ballots in the southwest of the Kingdom where more than 1,700 candidates are standing for election in Najran, Asir, Jizan and Al-Baha. The results of the elections are expected tomorrow.
The first round of elections in Riyadh on Feb. 10 saw 73.6 percent of only 140,000 registered voters — some 30 percent of total eligible voters — take part. Many thought that in the Eastern Province there would be a similar apathetic response. But poll organizers were in for a major surprise as the rush was on at the polling stations from the first moment.
“I am pleased that I have been given the opportunity to vote and to give voice to my opinion,” said Anwar Saif Al-Hossaini, 44. “It’s a good time for these polls and a good start to even better opportunities ahead.”
Essa Al-Dossary, a businessman and member of the election organizing committee in Alkhobar, was amazed to see so many voters turning up so early on a Thursday morning.
“It’s beautiful weather and a weekend. I never anticipated that so many people would make the elections a priority today, but of course I couldn’t be happier and I think this excellent turnout is encouraging for the future,” he said. “Yes, this is only the first election and a small step forward but the voters’ enthusiasm shows that people already believe in this process.” Security was present at all the polling stations but not overwhelming. The police were assisted by private security guards. All men attempting to enter a polling station had to show their voter registration card. Once inside, voters went through a two-part process in which first they signed next to their name on the list of registered voters and then they went to a private voting booth to fill in their ballot. Once completed, each voter placed his ballot in a sealed ballot box. Most people were unsure how to proceed once inside the polling station. Many voters had to be assisted at every step in the process, even to the point of advising them of the manner in which to place their ballots in the ballot boxes.
Election officials did their best to keep the lines moving but the inexperience of the voters slowed the process down. Very long lines outside polling places became commonplace and frustrating.
“I have to go to work early this afternoon. Unfortunately, it looks like there is a two- to three-hour wait ahead of me before I get inside the polling station. I don’t know if I will get a chance to vote,” said Fouad Al-Ahmad, 42, standing in line at Polling Station 320 at 9 a.m. “I am anxious. I have been worrying about which candidates are the right ones to choose. Once elected, will these people keep their promises? I have to tell my children about today’s voting and I think they will find my story very dull with all this waiting.”
By early afternoon the lines at the polling stations were considerably shorter and election officials were standing by for the rush of the final hour before the 5 p.m. close.
“I don’t believe that today could have gone any better,” said Hussain Al-Askary, an engineer and election organizer in Qatif. “The turnout has been very high. At this polling station, Al-Quadih, No. 334, we have 3,133 registered voters. At 3:30 we opened our third box of ballots. Each box contains 1,000. The 24 of us on the organizing committee at this polling center will do our best to count all the ballots tonight and get all the ballots and our certified tally sent off to Riyadh.
“The people of Qatif have participated very strongly in these elections. That is their way of showing that they care to have their opinions known and hopefully acted upon. The men of Qatif were given a chance and they took it. I am proud to have been here today.”
