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The Emirates Human Rights Association (EHRA) has called for giving civil society organisations the right to monitor Federal National Council (FNC) elections.

Urging the National Election Committee to give civil society organisations an observer status, the association said it will ensure transparency, integrity and fairness of the electoral process.

The association said it is "looking forward to seeing an electoral process that ensures the right to political participation to achieve the objectives of the political empowerment programme in the UAE".

Candidates wishing to stand in Egypt's parliamentary ‎polls will be able to begin registering on Tuesday after passing medical tests that will cost them EGP 2850 ($365) each.

In a press conference on Sunday, Ayman Abbas, head of the ‎Higher Elections Committee (HEC) in charge of ‎supervising the polls, announced that candidates ‎seeking to stand in the coming parliamentary elections ‎can register between 1 and 12 September.‎

‎"Registration will begin at 9am and end at 5pm, except ‎on 12 September, when the window to register will close ‎at 2pm," said Abbas. ‎

JEDDAH: In an attempt to win the race and get a municipal seat, a number of female candidates are approaching media marketing agencies or media directorates for the election campaign, with the value of some programs reaching SR250,000. 
Local media monitored a number of files that have been prepared by such agencies with a comprehensive election program, with the service charges reaching between SR200,000 and SR250,000. The program defines the vision of the candidate and offers solutions to the goal defined by them.

ABU DHABI // The call for more women to take part in the Federal National Council elections has been met with great response – they make up almost a quarter of the final list.

The National Election Commission announced 341 candidates, including five past members, are eligible to run for the council. Of these, 78 are women.

Three appeals against those standing were lodged with the NEC and two were upheld, removing an Abu Dhabi candidate and one from Ras Al Khaimah from the race.

The first phase of Egypt’s parliamentary elections will start on 17-18 October for Egyptians abroad and 18-19 October for voters inside Egypt, the Higher Electoral Commission (HEC) announced in a press conference late Sunday.   

Judge Ayman Abbas, head of HEC, added that the second phase of the elections would start on 21-22 November for Egyptians abroad and 22-23 November for Egyptians in Egypt.

Afghan Electoral Reform Commission on Sunday presented its reform proposal to government.

The package included 11 major recommendations including invalidation of existing voter cards, launch of e-ID cards and ‘parallel’ system of voting where one-third of parliamentary seats shall be allotted to political parties.

Shah Sultan Akifi, ERC’s chief, also said that the package included recommendations over appointments in the Independent Election Commission and Electoral Complaints Commission.

Muscat: As the October elections for the Majlis Al Shura approach, candidates are getting busy with their campaigns, using social media, signs, and other techniques to woo voters.

Two members of the Afghan Electoral Reform Commission on Saturday boycotted the body claiming it was working more for the interests of political parties.

The protesters argued that a plan outside national interest was already imposed on the 12-member commission.

“It should have been a national commission but unfortunately it has been turned out as a multi-party agenda,” said Kawwon Kakar, one of the protesting members. “The parties with their representatives in the commission tried to impose their plan there.”