JEDDAH: With the first stages of the municipal elections set to launch in Dhul Qadah, various organizations and institutions are responding to the intensifying “election fever” by trying to get in on the action and making a strong presence on the scene.

In light of the unprecedented involvement of female voters and candidates, a number of companies and Arab human rights institutions have recently been attracting businesswomen and female activists to take part in free courses on elections and the pivotal role candidates can play.

Director of Public Relations and Media at Al-Nahda Women’s Charity Association Heba Al-Zamil predicted a large voter turnout in the upcoming polls, especially among those aged 25 and under.

“Our role as institutions is to educate young people and consolidate their spirit of responsibility and patriotism, as well as promote and emphasize their active roles in the community so their voices can make a difference,” she said.

“Our society is not accustomed to the ballot box and electoral process, but by supporting this electoral culture, people will get used to it and the process will continue to develop and improve,” said Al-Zamil.

She said the charity, in collaboration with the King Khalid Foundation, has been able to design a training-of-trainers campaign, which provides them with tools that will enable them to educate the community about the importance of participating in council elections and increase participation ratios.