ELIGIBLE voters in a key Muharraq constituency facing a by-election on September 7 are being urged to ensure that their names are on the electoral rolls.
However, they have until 9pm tomorrow to check the voters’ lists at Busaiteen Intermediate School for Girls, the polling centre, or online at www.vote.bh.
Requests for a change of address or to alter voter information or to reinstate names not on the lists can be made either in person at the polling centre or at www.vote.bh.
The Polling Centre Supervisory Commission will look into the requests and directly communicate its decision to the applicants via text messages.
A hotline, 77277277, has also been set up to answer any inquiries from voters, from 10am to 6pm every day except Friday.
The by-election to Muharraq Governorate constituency one, which covers Busaiteen and Al Sayah, became necessary after the Cassation Court on July 10 revoked the parliamentary membership of Mohammed Al Hussaini for failing to disclose his dual nationality at the time of contesting the November 2022 national elections.
Bahrain’s election rules allow candidates to have only dual GCC citizenship; Mr Al Hussaini reportedly also has Pakistani nationality.
He had nominated himself from the same constituency in 2014 and lost in the first round. He then reached the run-off in 2018 losing to Hamad Al Kooheji. He finally secured the seat in 2022 beating Dr Essam Al Alawi in the second round.
The GDN first highlighted Mr Al Hussaini’s case on June 29 when he appeared in court facing charges of not disclosing his second nationality.
His biography, photographs and statistics related to his parliamentary endeavours were deleted from Parliament’s website shortly after the Cassation Court verdict was relayed to the chamber.
He announced that he was quitting political life and planning to return to ‘research and writing’.
By law, it is impossible for him to ever run for Parliament again or be appointed to the Shura Council as the GDN received clarification that Pakistani nationality is ‘for life’ and cannot be revoked or exchanged for another.
Meanwhile, so far, 10 hopeful candidates have announced their intention to run in the by-election, including two women, Khawla Al Busomait and Sabah Al Dossary, and Dr Al Alawi.
Saleh Abdullah Al Sadah, a candidate who received only 50 votes during the 2022 elections, is planning to put his name forward once again.
One of the favourites, top car dealer Abdulla Al Shaikh, who is running for the first time, said the contest was going to be tough.
The by-election will take place on September 7 from 8am to 8pm, and September 14 in case of a run-off; overseas voting will be held on September 3, and September 10 in case of a run-off.
Meanwhile, billboards have gone up in public places around the constituency encouraging citizens living in the area, specifically in blocks 225, 226, 228 and 229, to cast their ballots.
Eligible candidates, aged 30 and above, wishing to run for the parliamentary seat have been urged to register their names at the polling centre from August 10 to 12, from 5pm to 9pm.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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