Riyadh, May 19: Abdul Rahman Al Dahmash, chairman of the general committee for Saudi Municipal Elections, has announced that more than one million have registered their names for voting in the municipal elections due to be held from September 22. Registration of voters will close on Thursday and candidates’ registration will begin May 28 and runs for six days.
The general committee for Saudi Municipal Elections said all voting centres have been closed as they have reached their maximum capacity of 3,000 voters and that additional centres were opened in the vicinity of existing ones.
“Registration is going on as per the plan,” he said. He expected the number of registered voters to increase by week-end.
In Riyadh, the number of registered voters reached 41,395, while its affiliated provinces the number reached 225,514. High turnout of registration is expected during the last week before the closing date. Riyadh region consists of 144 voting centres.
Riyadh alone has 74 voting centres.
Al Dahmash pointed out that during its first session the municipal councils have made several accomplishments. “Open meetings between councils’ members and citizens, field visits by members to different municipalities, receiving citizens complains and creation of websites to facilitate contacts with citizens, were among the achievements being realised,” he added.
He said that all measures were taken to guarantee smooth registration and voting. Heads of registration centres were given authority to open more new centers, he said, adding that more than ten additional centers were opened.
-Agencies