Abu Dhabi: By adopting an election protection system, the National Election Committee reiterates its commitment to hold an election that is characterised by the highest degree of fairness and transparency by implementing the best internationally recognised practices used in the world’s most successful parliaments, said Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of the National Election Committee.
Dr Gargash said on the eve of the early voting that starts today at nine polling stations across the country, the highly accurate e-voting technology adopted by the NEC is a pioneering experiment in the region, which the UAE introduced during the first Federal National Council Elections in 2006.
The third FNC elections, the minister said, will contribute maturity to the UAE’s parliamentary experience and add to the successes achieved during the previous rounds of elections, through harnessing all available resources.
“This is expected to contribute to reaching that goal and putting in place an effective election management team in a manner that embraces the UAE’s wise leadership’s vision for broadening the political participation and ensuring that the FNC experience is more effective and representative. Further, the election will assure that the citizens’ voices are heard and meet their requirements and demands, which are a top priority and key for continuing progress in the UAE community, as it reaches the advanced position it deserves, regionally and internationally,’ Dr Gargash said.
To guarantee seamless honesty and protection for the electoral process, the NEC approved the encryption-based electronic voting system. The system employs interrelated cryptographic processes and protocols to provide reliability in casting votes, counting ballots, and verification of polling results.
In order to achieve this, the committee is seeking to make the voting process easier for voters across the country by implementing an electronic voting system in a manner that uses smart IDs issued by the Emirates Identity Authority. According to the system, the voter will use his Emirates ID to cast his vote, either by entering a candidate’s number or by selecting the candidate’s photo. The system also offers the voter a chance to change his vote.
The NEC has urged all citizens to confirm their names in the voters’ list by visiting the NEC’s website, www.uaenec.ae, or by contacting its dedicated call centre on 600500005 in order to ensure they are able to exercise their voting right on Election Day.
The campaigning period will run until September 30, followed by a two-day electoral silence ahead of the FNC election set for October 3.
Box
Nine early voting polling stations
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
Western Region: Madinat Zayed Ballroom
Al Ain: Al Ain Convention Centre — Al Khubaisi
Dubai: Dubai World Trade Centre
Sharjah: Sharjah Chess Club, near American University of Sharjah
Ajman: Social Services Building — Ministry of Social Affairs in Al Jurf
Umm Al Quwain: Shaikh Khalifa Ballroom
Ras Al Khaimah: Higher Colleges of Technology for Women
Fujairah: Exhibition Centre
