KUWAIT CITY, April 3: Kuwaiti citizens will vote for their representatives at the National Assembly from 12:00 pm to 12:00 midnight on Thursday. According to statistics issued by the Election Affairs General Department in the Ministry of Interior, the number of citizens who are eligible to vote totaled 834,733 – 405,948 men and 428,785 women. Following is a breakdown of the number of voters per constituency: First Constituency: 104,038 – 50,398 men and 53,640 women Second Constituency: 95,302 – 46,639 men and 48,663 women Third Constituency: 143,693 – 68,991 men and 74,702 women Fourth Constituency: 220,932 – 106,534 men and 114,398 women Fifth Constituency: 270,768 – 133,386 men and 137,382 women On the other hand, 200 candidates including 12 women will compete for 50 parliamentary seats. A total of 44 candidates withdrew from the electoral race, while 14 others were disqualified by the Ministry of Interior for failure to meet all requirements.

These 200 candidates are distributed per constituency as follows: First Constituency: 41 including one woman Second Constituency: 39 including one woman Third Constituency: 32 including seven women Fourth Constituency: 48 including two women Fifth Constituency: 40 including one woman Meanwhile, the polling stations will be open even during the breaking of fast (Maghreb prayer). Voters must present their nationality certificates. On the other hand, Minister of Information Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi has affirmed the commitment of his ministry to fully support media practitioners in covering the election either by using the media center it has established for this purpose or providing the necessary information. On inaugurating the media center, Al-Mutairi said the ministry invited media practitioners from different countries to cover the major democratic event in Kuwait. He conducted a field tour to check the preparations of Kuwait TV studios allocated for broadcasting and monitoring the election. Assistant Undersecretary for External Information Affairs at the Ministry of Information Bader Al-Tarawa disclosed that the media center will receive 57 media practitioners from various countries. He affirmed that they will be provided with all the necessary facilities, including familiarization pamphlets and news in different languages.

The Kuwaiti Cabinet on Tuesday called on eligible voters to join the forthcoming parliamentary election due Thursday to ensure a bright future for people and generations to come under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Cabinet made the call during its weekly meeting held at Bayan Palace and presided over by His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. In this context, the Cabinet decided to suspend work at all ministries and state institutions and bodies on Thursday, April 4, the day of the country’s parliamentary vote.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Acting Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah elaborated on preparations for the electoral race. Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Adel Al-Adwani expounded election arrangements at 124 schools nationwide, saying that classes on the election day would be online.

By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies