Chamber vote to be held again

Abu Dhabi: Polling stations will open again in two weeks when 79 candidates will compete for seats on the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) board of directors.

Voter turnout on Monday fell far short of the approximately 18,000 needed to qualify the election. Election officials even extended voting by two hours after the official closing of polls at 8pm but later announced a second round would be held on December 21.

No minimum voter turnout will be required in the next round.

Ahmad Al Za'abi, head of the Election Supervisory Committee, declined to disclose the exact number of votes recorded, but said it was less than two-thirds of the approximately 18,000 votes needed to qualify the election, or 25 per cent of the emirate's registered businesses.

"It's irrelevant how many votes each candidate received today," said Al Za'abi. "In two weeks the entire process will be repeated."

At the Abu Dhabi convention centre, the largest voting station, voter turnout was the primary concern of the candidates throughout the day as it remained light but steady. Queues rarely formed outside the two morning hours before midday and the last 90 minutes before 8pm.

"Elections are new here, that's why you see low turnout," said one voting representative from a health care company, who declined to be identified.

In all, 67 UAE nationals and 12 expatriates were vying for 15 of the 21 board seats. Six members are appointed by the government.