THREE quarters of the seats in Bahrain’s parliament are still up for grabs, following the first round of Bahrain’s national election on Saturday.
Only nine parliament candidates secured victory at the first time of asking, with the remaining 31 seats all coming down to a second round vote.
A candidate must secure at least 50 per cent of the vote to be declared the outright winner.
When that doesn’t happen the top two candidates go head to head in a second round run-off, which will take place this coming Saturday in Bahrain – and tomorrow for overseas voters.
Only seven of the available 30 municipal council seats were secured in the first round, meaning there will be council run-offs in 23 constituencies.
Two MPs were declared outright winners in Muharraq, just one in the Capital Governorate, two in the Northern Governorate and four in the Southern Governorate.
Meanwhile, three municipal councillors were elected in Muharraq, just one in the Northern Governorate and three in the Southern Governorate.
There is no municipal election in the Capital Governorate, where an appointed Capital Trustees Board has been responsible for municipal affairs since 2014.
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister and High Elections Committee chairman Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa said voter turnout in the first round was 67pc in the parliament election and 70pc in municipal council polls.
Only two of 23 incumbent MPs successfully defended their seats in the first round, with Adel Al Asoomi again claiming victory in Capital Governorate constituency one (Hoora, Gudaibiya and Diplomatic Area) and Isa Al Kooheji being re-elected in Muharraq Governorate constituency four (Halat Bu Maher, Al Ghous Corniche and Old Muharraq Suq).
Twenty-one other incumbent MPs also sought re-election, but 13 were dumped by voters in the first round and another eight face a second round run-off.
A total of 430 candidates contested Saturday’s election, including 290 for parliament and 173 for municipal councils.
Vote
Sixty-two candidates are now in the second round for 30 vacant parliament seats, while 46 candidates are vying for 23 municipal council seats.
Polling stations will open again from 8am to 8pm on Saturday in constituencies being contested in the second round, as well as 14 general polling stations where residents of any constituency can vote.
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