Moody Talat
DOHA
Citizens are all set to exercise their franchise in the Central Municipal Council's fifth term elections on Wednesday. A total of 110 candidates, including five women, are vying for 26 seats after 25 contenders withdrew from the race. Candidates for three seats have already been elected unopposed after these withdrawals.
According to CMC Elections website, a few withdrawals have been announced very recently, including three in the past 24 hours. The highest number of withdrawals (five) occurred in Constituency no. 13, where 12 candidates were initially competing, followed by four withdrawals in Constituency no. 11, and three in Constituency no. 22, leaving seven and two candidates closer to claiming a seat in the Council, in respective order.
Between 8 am and 5 pm, voters can cast their votes at 26 polling stations. Prior to that, members of the elections committee and candidates or their representatives will preview ballot boxes. The boxes will be closed by the Committee's Chairman and members in front of the candidates or their representatives, and then placed in their designated locations.
The five female candidates will each compete against up to five male candidates in five different constituencies that cover some highly populated zones and important locations such as Doha Port, the Central Market, Al Souq (the Old Market), Doha International Airport, Ras Abu Fontas, Al Mazrooa, Musheireb, Al Hilal, Al Ghanim and Salata.
see also page 19 >>
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