QNA
Doha
Qatari citizens who are registered in the voters’ lists will head to the polls on Saturday to cast their votes in the first direct and free elections for the Shura Council.
The polling stations will open their doors to voters at 8 am until 6 pm, while adhering to the precautionary measures followed in the country, and showing QID to verify the voters’ identity and electronically check their registration in the voters lists.
The electoral silence for the candidates will begin on Friday at 8 am, 24 hours before the start of the electoral process, according to the law.
Candidates who gain the relative majority of eligible votes will be elected to the Shura Council, and in the case when two or more candidates have an equal number of votes, the head of the electoral committee could then cast his vote to decide the winner. There are 252 candidates, including 27 women competing to win two-thirds (30 seats) of the 45-seat Shura Council, while the other 15 members will be appointed as stipulated in the Qatari Constitution.
This large number of candidates to win the membership of the Shura Council reflects the strong competition to serve the homeland and its renaissance, raise its status, and to make this experience a success and a model to be followed in the region.
The upcoming Shura Council elections, which will be conducted by direct secret ballot, are the second experience of free elections in the country after the Central Municipal Council’s elections.
The elections reflect the wise leadership’s desire to expand popular participation in decision-making and move forward in the reform process, crowning this path with a legislative council that enjoys broader powers through which it approves public policies, ratifies international agreements, monitors the budget and government performance, requests the questioning of ministers, and other powers that promote the separation of powers.
Observers of the Shura Council’s elections notice the wide interaction by citizens, men and women, with this parliamentary experience that they are witnessing for the first time, and which affirms the state’s continuation in the democratic path that it has chosen and stipulated in its permanent constitution, establishing a new stage of reform and popular presence in legislation and decision-making.
Despite precautions taken as a result of the spread of COVID-19 globally, the relevant authorities and ministries as well as the committees entrusted with fulfilling this democratic legislative entitlement, have done everything necessary to facilitate the voting process, to enable voters to reach their constituencies and choose the candidates who have ability and efficiency to serve the country and preserve its capabilities.
Amidst these extraordinary circumstances, the candidates found that using the widely popular social media is a great opportunity to reach electors directly. Through social media, the candidates can broadcast their programmes, messages and electoral promises, as well as introduce themselves through the television and radio channels, and hold public meetings that follow the imposed precautionary measures in headquarters for candidates provided by the Media Support Committee for the Shura Council elections.
Using these modern means in electoral campaigning has certainly saved electors time and effort and allowed them to know the candidates, their electoral programmes, their qualifications to enter the elections, and their ability to carry out their legislative duty and achieve the aspirations set upon them.
By observing the Shura Council candidates, it is easy to notice the adversity of their experiences, and cultural and intellectual backgrounds, which were reflected in their electoral programs, confirming their true knowledge of the lived reality and their full awareness of the concerns and needs of the country, as well as their awareness of the requirements of citizens and their sense of what their country should be, which proves the efficiency and expertise of all the candidates alike.
On its part, the state has been keen to make this experience a success and to set an example in the region. The state has provided the ideal atmosphere for this experience, enacted governing laws for it, issued organizing decisions, and paid attention to every detail, providing the opportunity to know each candidate and their program without confusion or disturbance.
The candidates’ commitment to the decisions organized by the state reflected the progress and success of the electoral process.
To ensure ideal elections in terms of organization and integrity, the concerned authorities took measures that reflected the great harmony between all the state institutions and society to support the electoral process, which started with the formation of the supervisory committee and the executive committees concerned with the Shura Council elections in its first session and defining their terms of reference.
The committee, as soon as it was formed, began placing plans and programmes in line with its powers. Two committees for candidates and voters were formed and will remain in session until the end of the election process and to give their verdicts on electoral appeals on the election results’ validity.
It is worth noting that the Shura Council, over half a century, has had countless successes in previous sessions. That success will be the foundation for the newly-elected council, which marks the start of wider popular participation in the legislation and regulatory process.
The election process is moving along according to plan, with strong engagement from the candidates in all the phases of this important legislative event that is seeing high coverage and reactions locally and internationally, given it is a real and new addition to process of wise governance in Qatar, as it establishes a state that promotes justice, equality, and the rule of law. All eyes will be on Qatar on October 2, the election day, and the announcement of winners will take place. No doubt that the biggest winners will be the country and the people, who will all celebrate a unique democratic festival.
Doha
Qatari citizens who are registered in the voters’ lists will head to the polls on Saturday to cast their votes in the first direct and free elections for the Shura Council.
The polling stations will open their doors to voters at 8 am until 6 pm, while adhering to the precautionary measures followed in the country, and showing QID to verify the voters’ identity and electronically check their registration in the voters lists.
The electoral silence for the candidates will begin on Friday at 8 am, 24 hours before the start of the electoral process, according to the law.
Candidates who gain the relative majority of eligible votes will be elected to the Shura Council, and in the case when two or more candidates have an equal number of votes, the head of the electoral committee could then cast his vote to decide the winner. There are 252 candidates, including 27 women competing to win two-thirds (30 seats) of the 45-seat Shura Council, while the other 15 members will be appointed as stipulated in the Qatari Constitution.
This large number of candidates to win the membership of the Shura Council reflects the strong competition to serve the homeland and its renaissance, raise its status, and to make this experience a success and a model to be followed in the region.
The upcoming Shura Council elections, which will be conducted by direct secret ballot, are the second experience of free elections in the country after the Central Municipal Council’s elections.
The elections reflect the wise leadership’s desire to expand popular participation in decision-making and move forward in the reform process, crowning this path with a legislative council that enjoys broader powers through which it approves public policies, ratifies international agreements, monitors the budget and government performance, requests the questioning of ministers, and other powers that promote the separation of powers.
Observers of the Shura Council’s elections notice the wide interaction by citizens, men and women, with this parliamentary experience that they are witnessing for the first time, and which affirms the state’s continuation in the democratic path that it has chosen and stipulated in its permanent constitution, establishing a new stage of reform and popular presence in legislation and decision-making.
Despite precautions taken as a result of the spread of COVID-19 globally, the relevant authorities and ministries as well as the committees entrusted with fulfilling this democratic legislative entitlement, have done everything necessary to facilitate the voting process, to enable voters to reach their constituencies and choose the candidates who have ability and efficiency to serve the country and preserve its capabilities.
Amidst these extraordinary circumstances, the candidates found that using the widely popular social media is a great opportunity to reach electors directly. Through social media, the candidates can broadcast their programmes, messages and electoral promises, as well as introduce themselves through the television and radio channels, and hold public meetings that follow the imposed precautionary measures in headquarters for candidates provided by the Media Support Committee for the Shura Council elections.
Using these modern means in electoral campaigning has certainly saved electors time and effort and allowed them to know the candidates, their electoral programmes, their qualifications to enter the elections, and their ability to carry out their legislative duty and achieve the aspirations set upon them.
By observing the Shura Council candidates, it is easy to notice the adversity of their experiences, and cultural and intellectual backgrounds, which were reflected in their electoral programs, confirming their true knowledge of the lived reality and their full awareness of the concerns and needs of the country, as well as their awareness of the requirements of citizens and their sense of what their country should be, which proves the efficiency and expertise of all the candidates alike.
On its part, the state has been keen to make this experience a success and to set an example in the region. The state has provided the ideal atmosphere for this experience, enacted governing laws for it, issued organizing decisions, and paid attention to every detail, providing the opportunity to know each candidate and their program without confusion or disturbance.
The candidates’ commitment to the decisions organized by the state reflected the progress and success of the electoral process.
To ensure ideal elections in terms of organization and integrity, the concerned authorities took measures that reflected the great harmony between all the state institutions and society to support the electoral process, which started with the formation of the supervisory committee and the executive committees concerned with the Shura Council elections in its first session and defining their terms of reference.
The committee, as soon as it was formed, began placing plans and programmes in line with its powers. Two committees for candidates and voters were formed and will remain in session until the end of the election process and to give their verdicts on electoral appeals on the election results’ validity.
It is worth noting that the Shura Council, over half a century, has had countless successes in previous sessions. That success will be the foundation for the newly-elected council, which marks the start of wider popular participation in the legislation and regulatory process.
The election process is moving along according to plan, with strong engagement from the candidates in all the phases of this important legislative event that is seeing high coverage and reactions locally and internationally, given it is a real and new addition to process of wise governance in Qatar, as it establishes a state that promotes justice, equality, and the rule of law. All eyes will be on Qatar on October 2, the election day, and the announcement of winners will take place. No doubt that the biggest winners will be the country and the people, who will all celebrate a unique democratic festival.