Parliamentary and municipal candidates may soon be allowed to use existing electronic screens and licensed roadside billboards for campaign advertising, a move that could mark a first in Bahrain’s electoral landscape.
The development follows a recommendation by the Southern Municipal Council seeking approval to instal electronic screens specifically for poll campaigns and commercial use.
However, the proposal for new installations was struck down by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, which asserted that existing infrastructure is sufficient for the purpose.
In an official response relayed to the council, Municipal Affairs Under-Secretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa clarified that the matter had been reviewed by the relevant governmental committee and that licensed screens already operating across Bahrain could be utilised within approved regulatory frameworks.
“The most appropriate option at this stage is to benefit from the electronic screens that are already licensed and operating, or to resort to alternative advertising methods that suit the nature of the stage,” he said in the memorandum sent to the Capital Trustees Board and Bahrain’s three municipal councils.
“This approach achieves the desired objective with greater efficiency and effectiveness without imposing additional financial burdens on the budget or affecting the smooth flow of traffic.”
The ministry’s position effectively opens the door for candidates to advertise on existing digital street screens and billboards – something not previously permitted in Bahrain’s elections, where candidates traditionally rely on privately installed banners, posters and billboards that must be removed immediately after polls close.
While the council’s original recommendation called for the installation of dedicated electronic screens to modernise campaign advertising and create a regulated platform for candidates, the government’s response signals a different path: modernisation without new infrastructure.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif welcomed the ministry’s feedback, but stressed the need for a clear, official decision well ahead of the next elections.
“Our objective from the beginning was to regulate and modernise the campaign advertising process in a way that serves candidates and preserves the urban landscape,” he said. “If the government believes there is no need for new screens, then we are requesting an official decision confirming that candidates will be allowed to use the existing electronic screens and licensed structures during the election period. This clarity is essential before the start of the campaign season.”
Mr Abdullatif noted that candidates currently spend significant amounts installing temporary campaign materials that often create visual clutter and logistical challenges for municipalities after elections.
“Allowing the use of existing digital infrastructure would reduce waste and costs for candidates, and help avoid the burden of removing thousands of banners and posters after every election,” he added.
Mr Abdullatif said if formally adopted, the measure could significantly change the look and feel of election campaigning in Bahrain, shifting from rows of temporary roadside banners to controlled, scheduled digital displays across streets.
For candidates, it could mean greater visibility through high-traffic locations without the need for individual installations. For municipalities, it could mean a cleaner, more organised cityscape during and after elections.
The council is now awaiting an official regulatory framework that would define how, when and under what conditions candidates may access these screens during campaign periods.
Bahrain’s municipal and parliamentary elections are planned later this year. MPs will be elected by citizens from 40 constituencies in the country’s four governorates: 12 constituencies in Northern, 10 each in Southern and Capital and eight in Muharraq.
Only 30 municipal councillors are elected because the Manama Municipal Council was turned into an appointed body, called the Capital Trustees Board, in 2014.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))