JEDDAH: Training sessions and workshops for those assisting the local committees for election to various municipal councils have been conducted. The trainees were given exhaustive information on the process of election and steps that are to be taken during polling, vote counting and announcement of results.

Jadee Al-Qahtani, chairman of the executive committee and spokesperson for elections, said the general committee for elections conducted the training program in two phases, one for polling and the other for vote counting.

He said the first phase of training was completed in Riyadh. It comprises a set of workshops and training sessions, which continued for three days. The participants in this phase of training were selected as assistant trainers to train the team for polling process and counting. This included training of teams, which would work on results in the local committees.

The second phase started on the fourth day of the month of Safar. This also included a set of training sessions and workshops for the officers of local committees at regional secretariats.

A team of specialists from the general committee for elections provided training on the process and guidelines for polling and vote counting. Male and female members of the polling committees participated in this training program. The second phase of training covering all local committees has been completed, he added.

Those heading the executive committee for elections said that guidelines for polling and vote counting have been distributed to all the participants of the workshops. Experts conducting the training programs provided the participants with information required for receiving voters coming to cast their votes.

He said that the trainees were given all information about every phase of elections, from receiving voters at polling centers, to voting, and how a voter can identify his or her preferred candidate and how to vote for the candidate by putting a tick mark opposite the name of the candidate clearly so that the ballot paper remained correct and acceptable for counting.

He added that training was also given on mechanism of dealing with ballot papers and counting. These papers would have notes indicating if they were valid or invalid. The workers were trained in all phases of voting and counting till the announcement of final results so that they understand the entire process.

He said that the training process included dealing with emergency situations, which might arise during voting. The training involved practical programs as well. There was a positive response to all such efforts.

A number of women were also trained for working at the female voting centers.