JEDDAH, 14 January 2005 — A month-long voter registration process in preparation for the Kingdom’s first municipal election scheduled for February ended yesterday in Dammam and Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province.
The local election supervisory commission said 62,570 people registered in Al-Ahsa. Initial figures indicate as many as 200,000 voters may have registered in the two areas. The registration was conducted at 72 centers.
Fahd Al-Jubair, chairman of the supervisory committee, expressed satisfaction over the completion of the registration process saying the turnout has been high. “The enthusiastic response as shown by the large number of people who registered reflects a high degree of awareness among the people of the region. I would like to thank all the citizens who registered for their participation in the process,” he said.
Al-Jubair said the second phase for candidate registration would begin on Feb. 3, to be followed by the third and last stage with voting taking place on March 3.
The Kingdom’s first-ever municipal elections will be conducted in three phases. Half of the members of the 178 municipal councils in the Kingdom’s 13 regions will be selected through polls, with the other half nominated. Prince Miteb, minister of municipal and rural affairs, had earlier set up a committee to supervise the elections in the Eastern Province.
Women will not take part in the coming elections but officials said they would be allowed to vote in the next elections due in 2009. Prince Mansour ibn Miteb, chairman of the General Committee for Municipal Elections, said the only reason women were not allowed to vote in next month’s round was because municipal elections are a new experience and the short time given to prepare for them made it impossible to allow women’s participation this time.
The money spent on campaigning is expected to run into millions of riyals. Over SR20 million alone is expected to go to outdoor advertising. In addition, local newspapers and magazines as well as companies producing plastic banners and public relations programs are expected to involve additional amounts.
Riyadh is expected to account for half the amounts, given the population density and economic position of the capital city. Financial analysts expect Riyadh candidates to pump SR4 million into outdoor advertising in addition to another SR5 million on plastic banners the candidates are allowed to temporarily post in the polling stations. Candidates are not allowed to use television advertising or put out posters on building facades and walls, bridges or highways.
