Manama > Heavy turnout in Bahrain’s parliamentary and municipal elections on Saturday. Voting started at eight in the morning in 40 polling stations and 14 general polling centers in four governorates and continued till eight at night. Good polling was recorded in various booths till 5 pm. 37 polling stations were also operational in different countries outside Bahrain.
334 candidates are seeking popular vote for 40 seats in the Council of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament. Along with this, 173 candidates are contesting for 30 seats in the Northern, Southern and Muharraq Municipal Councils. 3,44,713 people including women are eligible to vote. 107 women, including 94, are contesting for Parliament. In 2018, 40 women sought seats in Parliament.
The term of Parliament is four years. The term of the Municipal Council is also four years. The second phase of voting will be held on November 19 in constituencies that did not receive a majority in this election. Bahrainis abroad had cast their votes at Bahrain diplomatic offices last Tuesday. Bahrain has held parliamentary elections every four years since 2002. Despite various challenges in the region, Bahrain has held elections smoothly in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
In 2002, the first election after women got the right to vote, no women won. But in 2006, through the success of Latifah Al-Gaud, the women of the coral island made history. She is the first woman elected to parliament in the GCC itself. In 2018, six women won seats in Parliament. The voting percentage in 2018 was 67 percent. It was the highest turnout since Bahrain became a constitutional monarchy in 2002.
Desabhimani news is now available on WhatsApp and Telegram.
Click to Subscribe WhatsApp Channel..
Click to Subscribe Telegram Channel..
Other news