SHARJAH // Fatima Al Muhairi became the first elected member of the historic Sharjah Council on Sunday night when she beat five men in the seat of Al Hamriya.
Ms Al Muhairi won 33 per cent of the 406 votes cast.
Sixty-seven per cent of registered voters in all turned out for the first local election – and 42 per cent of them were women. A total of 16,696 Sharjah citizens cast their ballots during the four days of voting.
In some areas the turnout percentage was even higher, such as in Al Mleiha, where 87 per cent of 854 cast their vote.
The vote counters, despite working well into the night to tally the results, were in high spirits at the Al Qasimia University theatre.
The public could view the counting process in person or through a live Sharjah TV broadcast as officials moved ballot boxes from around the emirate and were driven and flown to the theatre.
Mansour bin Nassar, head of the supreme elections committee, predicted that, including Sunday’s voting, the total turnout could hit 60 per cent.
On Sunday, a rush was on for Sharjah citizens, young and old, to cast their vote before the 8pm deadline.
For 71-year-old Abdulrahman Al Abdoli, not even blindness and the use of cane could stop him from casting his ballot at the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club.
“I had to come, although we have been busy with family matters. I arrived here with my son, who came to help me cast my vote for Sharjah Consultative Council,” said the Al Nouf resident.
“This is a historic event in the country, and in Sharjah specifically, to elect our own representatives in the council.”
Mr Al Abdoli added that he voted for someone who is well known for his good deeds.
“He is an educated and honest man, and I’m sure he will serve his district well,” said the father of nine. His son, 52-year-old Mahmoud Al Abdoli, who cast his vote on Thursday, said: “I voted for a man who will focus on education and health.”
A visiting EU delegation led by Jean-Bernard Bolvin, deputy head of mission to the UAE, was at the voting centre on Sunday and said that the processes were transparent, easy, and impressive. “I would like to praise Sheikh Sultan [bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Sharjah Ruler] for opening up the council for elections. This move will bring fresh, new blood to the council and encourages citizens in building the emirate.”
Sheikh Sultan announced in June last year that half of the 42-seat council, which is responsible for implementing proposals for all matters referred to it by the Ruler, would be elected, with the other half appointed by himself.
Voter Kaltham Issa came to vote with her 28-year-old daughter and husband. “I voted in about five minutes,” she said, “and our family members voted for a man well known in our community and a good friend of our family.”
Malallah Hasan Al Yasi brought his 11-year-old son to witness the voting process. “I wanted to have my son watch the voting process and to instil in him the democratic process and its importance,” said the 56-year-old.
Meanwhile, Khalifah Al Tunaiji said that his vote went to a man who is worthy of council membership. “I have selected a man who I have a great confidence that he will take the problems of residents and work on fixing them inside the council,” said the director of Sharjah’s housing department.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
*Additional reporting by Naser Al Wasmi