Doha: The first election of Shura Council began at 29 polling stations out of total 30 constituencies as a candidate for Constituency No. 5 is already elected unopposed.
There are 229 candidates, including 26 women, vying for the 30 seats.
The polling stations received large number of voters when the voting started at 8am following the COVID-19 protocol and will conclude by 6pm.
The voting process is fast and smooth taking few minutes from verification to collecting ballot paper and casting the vote.
The enthusiastic voters reached few minutes before the opening of polling stations.
Security personnel from the Ministry of Interior and volunteers from Qatar Red Crescent Society have been deployed in adequate number to ensure a smooth election procedure.
The voting is being held in a large gym size hall separately for men and women.
Following the election procedures, the voters first show their green status on Ehteraz app at entrance, then they head to counter for verification where they get a slip to obtain ballot paper from another counter.
Dedicated corners were made for voters to cast their votes secretly.
An area is dedicated for candidates where they can sit and observe the election process.
To ensure transparency, before starting the voting, the election officer called candidates to check the ballot boxes are empty and then they were sealed in front of them.
Sanitizers have been mounted at places so voters and management can sanitize their hands.
