JEDDAH, 24 November 2005 — The committee assigned by the Ministry of Commerce to supervise the elections to the board of directors of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry was giving final touches yesterday to the preparations to hold the poll in which women are contesting for the first time.

“We expect an unprecedented number of voters to show up because of the large number of candidates as well as the huge interest of the private sector in the outcome of the election,” said Othman Basagr, general director of support services at the chamber.

JCCI Secretary-General Mohammed Al-Sharif inspected the registration desks and the polling station set up inside Sheikh Ismail Abu Dawood Hall where women voters will cast their ballots on Saturday and Sunday. Male voters will cast their ballots on Monday and Tuesday at the same venue. Voting will take place in two sessions — morning and evening — for the convenience of the electorate.

Voting will also take place at the chamber’s Rabigh and Qunfudha branches.

Basagr said 20 computers have been installed for completing the registration and verification of voters’ identity. The support services team will guide the voters on the steps for completing the registration process. Electronic machines will be used for vote counting.

In all 71 candidates are in the fray. A CD with the names and numbers of 21,000 members of the chamber has been supplied to each candidate for campaign purposes.

Mohyeddin Al-Hakim, IT manager at JCCI, said each voter would take only 10 seconds to register and enter the voting hall. Balloting will take place in complete privacy.

Yehya Azzan, head of the supervising committee, said all 17 female candidates will be present at the registration hall on Saturday and Sunday to answer queries from women voters. The male candidates will camp outside the chamber building on Monday and Tuesday.

According to reports, some of the candidates will hold a live debate on ART satellite channel Saturday evening, but Azzan said any appearance on the visual media is against the rules. However, he declined to comment when asked about the consequences if anyone participates in the live debate Saturday.

The results of the election are likely to be announced Tuesday night and time will be given to register complaints if any.