Doha: The polling stations for the Central Municipal Council (CMC) elections in its sixth session closed at 5 pm today, in preparation for the counting process, and the announcement of the results later today.
In this election, 85 candidates, including 5 women, are contesting in only 25 constituencies out of 29 constituencies. Four districts have been elected by acclamation which are the 7th, the 22, the 27th and the 28th.
According to the preliminary data of the supervisory committee, the voting rate in these elections reached more than 50 percent, varying in constituencies, with the twenty-sixth constituency recording the highest vote, reaching about 74 percent.
Director-General of Public Security Major-General Saad bin Jassim al Khulaifi, praised voters participation in this election, stressing that the electoral process was conducted in a dignified and distinguished manner from the early hours.
He also praised the distinguished attendance of Qatari women in these elections as voters and candidates through the participation of five women in this election, adding that the participation of Qatari women in the elections of the CMC is a great support for the State of Qatar's efforts to promote women's rights and enable them to play their role in society and to provide opportunities for them to contribute positively to the development of their country and serve citizens and constituencies.
The election supervision committee in the Ministry of Interior confirmed that the voting process took place in an atmosphere of freedom and transparency, thanks to the increased community awareness of democratic practice, noting that the pre-election preparations played a role in facilitating the voters' task during the voting.
Brigadier Abdulrahman Majid Al Sulaiti, member of the supervisory elections committee for elections in the Ministry of Interior, confirmed that the polling process was conducted according to the arrangements prepared by the committee.
Al Sulaiti added that all workers in the electoral districts contributed to the success of the voting process, considering that the participation of voters go as with the desire of Qatar to contribute to the consolidation of democracy.
Al Sulaiti explained that the electoral legal committee continues to work in cooperation with the technical committee in terms of ensuring the safety of the ballot papers and the electronic work system within the electoral headquarters, and continue to respond to all legal inquiries received from the electoral committees for the purpose of the success of the elections.
Brigadier Abdulrahman Ali Al Farahid Al Malki, head of the technical committee for elections, pointed out that the election supervisory committee has drawn up the maps of the elections and made them available to citizens in more than one way on the website of the Ministry of Interior to familiarize them with their electoral constituencies and to facilitate their access to the polling stations to vote in these elections.
Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah, head of the media information committee, said that the supervisory committee has worked to hold elections characterized by transparency and a free atmosphere in expressing opinion, and choosing the best representative in the municipal council.
He pointed out that the media committee has made a great effort to raise awareness of the stages of the electoral process, including the voting process over several months through all media outlets, as well as establishing a media center at the Officers Club at the General Directorate of Civil Defense with all the requirements needed by journalists and various media.
