One-year jail, SR50,000 fine for buying votes

JEDDAH: In its bid to make the polls fair and transparent, the executive committee for elections of municipal councils has announced that anyone found buying votes will have to serve one year in prison or pay a SR50,000 fine or both, according to a report in the local media.
Jadee bin Nahar Al-Qahtani, president of the executive committee, said elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a fair and smooth election process.
However, he denied that there was any case of buying votes in the first two elections. "In the first election a national had several votes. Under the new law, the national would have just one vote. All activities will be closely monitored to ensure that there are no violations."
In case of any violations during the election campaign, there are clear punishments. The new election rules will take care of all hurdles in the process, said Al-Qahtani.
He said that the capacity of the electoral centers was 4 million voters, including 1.25 million women. 
The election campaign will be allowed only during stipulated days after the announcement of the preliminary list. The campaigns will start from Safar 17 and will end one day before polling. 
He said that participation of women both as voters or candidates was very important for the municipal council elections. The polling canters for women will be run only by women as one of the most prominent Shariah conditions for entry of women as voters or candidates in the current elections.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/787261