Omanis urged to validate national ID cards

Muscat: Omanis have been urged to ensure that their national identity cards are valid to avoid any glitches during the municipal council elections.

Oman is holding elections to the 11 municipal councils across the country for the first time. “The date of the municipal council elections will be announced later,” Sayyida Tamadhur Bint Badr Al Busaidi, Director of Electoral Affairs Department at the Interior Ministry, told the Oman News Agency.

Under a law promulgated last year, 61 wilayats will elect their representatives to the 11 municipal councils. A wilayat with a population of 30,000 or less will elect two members, a wilayat with a population of over 30,000 will elect four members while a wilayat with a population of 60,000 will elect six council members.

According to Al Busaidi, more than 500,000 citizens are registered as voters. “These registered voters are eligible to vote in both Shura and municipal council elections,” he said.

In May 2011, a 12-day nomination window was given to those wishing to contest elections.

A committee at the electorate office will scrutinise nominations to ensure that those contesting fulfilled all terms and conditions. “The final list of candidates will be announced only after a thorough scrutiny of nomination papers,” Sayyida said.

An automated system will be used for the entire election process, including counting of votes.

Sayyida urged eligible voters to visit the municipal elections website (mc.election.gov.om) to check the validity of their resident cards. They can also do so at the offices of the respective walis or at the mobile units entrusted with validating the citizens’ ID cards. “Digital validation of ID cards is a must for every voter,” she said, urging all eligible voters above the age of 21 to register their ID cards.

The official advised citizens to take active interest in the elections.

Sayyida Tamadhur also said that the responsibilities of municipal council members do not conflict with those of Shura members. “Shura focuses on regulatory and legislative roles while the municipal councils deal with all that relates to the daily life needs of individuals and society,” she said.