Candidates agree women hold the key

More female voters visit polling station than ever before.

AL AIN // FNC candidates seemed relaxed as they shared drinks and food at the Al Khabisi voting centre.

When they were not sitting in the buffet area, some were busy making phone calls while others waited to greet voters they recognised among the crowds.

And they all shared one observation – there were more women voters than ever before.

“If you stand on the women’s side, you will win,” some of the candidates repeated.

Candidates Khamees Al Khyeli and Salem Al Afari agreed that women were not only half of society but they also played a leading role in the success of any male. It was, therefore, important they were granted full rights in society.

“In any time and place, one who backs women will be on top,” said Mr Al Afari, a retired Armed Forces instructor pilot and camel race analyst.

As for the electoral process, some believed the size of one’s tribe could be a factor in winning votes, although, said Mr Al Afari, “today we are all from the ‘Emirates’ tribe”.

“It does not matter who is the son of whom.”

“This is like a mass wedding, and it is even being held at a wedding hall,” Mr Al Khyeli said.

“Whether we win the elections or not, all candidates today are winners. A national voting today is equal to a national soldier fighting for the land.”

A middle-aged woman pushed her baby’s pram through the entrance of the voting hall and then waited for her friends.

When her four acquaintances turned up, they carried on to the polling booth to vote for the same candidate.

“He is well known and a sheikh of a tribe, we will vote for him and no one else,” said one of the women.

Another woman walked excitedly out of the polling station after having voted for a different candidate.

“I received a video of his electoral campaign on WhatsApp and I liked what he proposed about supporting women,” said Ayesha Al Shehhi, a 42-year-old housewife.

“This is my first time to vote because this time there is more media publicity and voting has become a social responsibility.”

Ms Al Shehhi suggested extending the election campaign period so voters had more time to study each candidate and make better-informed decisions.

Mr Al Khyeli had a similar proposal: “We wish that the electoral process consisted of several phases, where the candidate appears in front of the audience with live coverage and a hotline, so he could present his agenda while answering inquiries from the public.”

Ahmed Al Shamsi, 36, a wheelchair-user, finished his voting within a few minutes. He said his first voting experience was “smooth” and that it was important for him to participate in the elections.