NEC says Emiratis abroad will have two days for voting

For the first time, this year eligible voters outside the UAE will be able vote in the Federal National Council elections.

Early voting will be held on September 20 and 21 at UAE embassies abroad.

The timeline for the 2015 Federal National Council election was released yesterday following the National Election Council’s 11th meeting. This year, the election period will be a few days longer than in 2011 – 25 days instead of 21 – from September 6 until September 30. Candidates must stop campaigning for two full days before election day, October 3.

Those who wish to nominate themselves as candidates can do so from August 13. Last year, 469 people nominated themselves, although 19 dropped out before election day.

This year the number of candidates is expected to increase, with promises from Dr Saeed Al Ghafli, a member of the NEC, that the number of eligible voters will exceed the pool in 2011. For that election, 129,274 citizens were given voting rights, about 10 per cent of the Emirati population.

Some eager candidates have already publicly announced their intention to run this year, before the list of eligible voters has even been released.

This year nominees will have five days, starting from August 16, to go to an NEC ad hoc post in their emirate to register their candidacy. They will need to bring their Emirates ID, a good conduct certificate issued by the Ministry of Interior, and family book to register. Only those who are on the electoral college list of eligible voters can stand. The release date of the list has not yet been confirmed.

The first list of candidates will be released on August 23.

Members of the public who wish to challenge any self-nominee can do so between August 24 and 26. The NEC will respond to objections by August 27. All appeals will be overseen by a judge.

Previously, the Minister of Justice oversaw appeals.

The final list of candidates will be released on August 31.

A week into the election period, candidates will submit their representatives’, or agents’, names to the NEC. Those who wish to withdraw their candidacy can do so on this date.

Election results will be announced once polls are closed on October 3. Those who wish to appeal against the results of the election will be able to do so in the following three days.

The final list of 20 successful candidates will be announced on October 11, unless supplementary elections are required. Twenty other candidates will be appointed by the rulers of the seven emirates to complete the 40 members of the FNC.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for FNC Affairs and chairman of the NEC, said early voting for citizens abroad was to enable Emiratis to exercise their electoral rights under all circumstances.

Some have also expressed concern that the late election means the FNC will not be sworn in until late October or early November as required by the constitution.

However, Ali Jassim (UAQ), the oldest member on the council, said it should not be a concern.

“Sometimes the council is called on to convene later than usual due to a certain public holiday or due to the elections, but it is not a problem,” he said. “The most important thing is for the council to sit for no less than six months as per the constitution.”

Until the new council is formed, the current council will continue their overseas activities, including an Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in October. They will not, however, convene for public sessions after their summer recess.

Interested parties can call the NEC at 600 500 005 from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.