Dubai: Candidates wishing to contest the Federal National Council (FNC) elections in September can register starting Sunday at various voting centres across the country.
Half of the total 40 members of the FNC will be elected in the country's second elections slated for September 24. The other seats will be filled by government-nominated members.
Candidates can submit their nomination papers at the specified centres across the country from Sunday until Wednesday from 9am until 3pm.
The National Election Commission (NEC) will announce the preliminary list of candidates on Saturday, while the final list of candidates will be announced on August 28 and the deadline for withdrawal of candidature is September 21.
Potential candidates must personally submit their nomination papers to the committee in their respective emirates along with the necessary documents.
Every individual from among the 129,000 voters who have been chosen by the government is eligible to file nomination papers abiding by the set rules.
Meanwhile, in a bid to directly communicate with people regarding the FNC elections, the minister of FNC affairs has joined the micro-blogging social media website, Twitter.
Dr. Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs, who is also the chairman of the NEC, joined Twitter under the handle @AnwarGargash.
With this, Dr. Gargash became the first UAE federal minister to officially join Twitter for communicating with UAE nationals and others interested in the UAE's FNC elections.
Dr. Gargash, who personally manages the account, said Twitter was an ideal platform for directly communicating with people from all walks of society interested in the FNC elections, especially the youth who constitute 35 per cent of the total voters in the Electoral College.
At a meeting with members of the NEC and the press last week, Dr. Gargash had said the biggest challenge facing the FNC elections was voter turnout.
"It should be understood that we are engaging in a new experience. According to our observations the biggest challenge we face is getting a high percentage of voters," he had said.
He also said the ministry was running an awareness campaign to maximise female voter turnout.
Follow the elections
The National Election Commission offers direct communication channels with citizens interested in following the news on the Federal National Council elections through www.uaenec.ae, the NEC's call centre at 60056661, or by fax at 024041155. The Twitter handle name for Dr. Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affiars is: @AnwarGargash
