Campaigning for next month’s national elections are continuing smoothly with candidates being extended all help to prevent any violations, according to a top official.
The parliamentary and municipal council elections will be held on November 12, with a run-off slated for November 19.
Voters will elect 40 members of Parliament and 30 municipal councillors for a period of four years, with the Capital Trustees Board being appointed by His Majesty King Hamad.
Southern Municipality director-general and Parliamentary and Municipal Elections Municipalities Co-ordinator Assem Abdullatif said poll hopefuls are being educated on the proper etiquette of electioneering, and on how to obtain licences for tents to be set up as campaign headquarters.
However, he urged candidates to follow the rules and regulations which govern campaigning and the distribution of promotional material ahead of the elections.
“Candidates must obtain the necessary permits from the Civil Defence to ensure the safety and security of the location by leaving a distance of 100 metres between the election posters and the main road,” said Mr Abdullatif in a statement.
“Posters cannot be placed on plants, near mosques, schools, universities and on university buildings as well as lighting poles and walls.
“As regards campaigning headquarters, tents must be 200 metres away from polling stations and if the land required for the electoral tent is on private property the approval of its owner is required.”
Mr Abdullatif reaffirmed that all guidelines have been intimated to candidates to keep them informed of organisational procedures as well as clarify regulations to be followed to avoid violations.
Special teams have been set up to ensure the success of the electoral process at all municipalities to provide the necessary support to the candidates and conduct organisational procedures by providing instructions and regulations.
Mr Abdullatif confirmed that these decisions are in line with Decision (141) of 2022 issued by Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak to govern the mechanism of electoral campaigning.
“There is ongoing collaboration with the relevant authorities to ensure the continuity of work with the candidates and to ensure the success of the elections,” he added.
“Each candidate wishing to request a licence for campaigning headquarters should follow up with the Civil Defence and the General Directorate of Traffic to obtain the required approval for the headquarters in a specified location.
“They must also ensure they are aware of the security and safety requirements, follow them and review them with the concerned municipality to complete the licensing process.”
The GDN previously reported that Mr Al Mubarak has banned billboards on 23 highways, bridges and avenues.
Campaigning has also been banned at nine locations and places such as public and private schools, places of worship, universities and institutes, ministries, government bodies and all associated departments, public service areas as well as monuments and archaeological and historical sites and their surroundings.
The ban extends to public transport, and electricity, phone, lighting and traffic signs and signals, and electoral headquarters, voting and sorting locations, and flyovers, underpasses, roundabouts, sidewalks, pavements and trees.
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