Elections to the Asharqia Chamber board kicked off Sunday. They will last for five days.

Voters — businessmen and businesswomen who are members of the chamber — are casting votes to elect members to the chamber’s board for its 17th edition.

Elections are being held in Abqaiq, Al-Khafji and Jubail on the first day. In addition, a women-only election polling station was opened in Dammam on the Dhahran International Exhibitions Company (DIEC) premises.

Elections will be held in Al-Nairiyah, Ras Tanura and Qatif on Monday and for men only at the DIEC on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The list of candidates contesting the election has 21 individuals. Of them, 13 belong to the merchant category, two are women and eight represent industries.

Elections are organized every four years and are considered one of the most important selection mechanisms for electing capable individuals to manage the ambitions of businessmen and businesswomen in the region.

The supervising committee of the elections has approved several requirements and procedural standards for participation in the election.

Most importantly, participants have been told to bring their invitation and national identity cards in order to be able to vote. Participants may only vote once regardless of how many branches their company has.

The owners of one-man firms also vote.

Female owners can vote on the days designated for women. They are also allowed to get their company managers to vote on their behalf if these representatives are included in the commercial register.