Manama: Approximately 1,200 Bahrainis living abroad on Tuesday cast their ballots for the general election, four days ahead of their fellow citizens.
Under Bahrain's 2010 elections rules, Bahraini citizens abroad are allowed to vote on Tuesday October 19 in the first round of the parliamentary elections, and one week later if there is a second round in the constituency where their names are registered.
A second round will be held if no candidate has secured at least 50 per cent of the votes in the first round.
Bahrainis in Bahrain, however, will vote on Saturday to elect the 35 politicians, and one week later if required.
"We have set up polling stations in 30 diplomatic missions abroad for the 1,195 Bahrainis eligible to cast ballots," the election high committee explained.
According to statistics, most of the overseas Bahrainis live in Jordan, Kuwait and the UAE.
Meanwhile, in Manama, the Bahrain Transparency Society (BTS) is shocked that only 68, out of a total of 317 parliamentary and municipal candidates, have signed an honour code ahead of the elections.
"We had thought that at the very least 100 candidates would endorse the pledge for honourable attitudes towards opponents and voters, but all we got was 68," said Sharaf Al Mousawi, BTS secretary general.
"We have spoken to all the political societies and to most candidates, but the limited commitment we’ve seen has come as a great shock to us."
Abdul Nabi El Ekri, the BTS president, last week anticipated a "limited response" from candidates. "Some candidates did not see the code as important or relevant to the race for elections," he said.
Al Asala, the Salafi party, which achieved the second highest score in the 2006 elections, said it was not in favour of the code of conduct.
"Signing this code will not change anything," Adel Al Mouawda, a veteran MP, representing the Salafi society, said. "An honourable candidate will remain honourable, whether he signs the code or not."
