The National Election Commission (NEC) has informed the UAE today that it has received three requests from three national NGOs to monitor the elections of the Federal National Council, scheduled to be held on the 5th of October next, which have been approved, pointing out that the Emirates Association of Lawyers and Jurists and the Emirates Human Rights Society You will be monitoring the elections, while representatives of the Sharjah Children's Shura Council will be present to monitor the voting process.

It is scheduled to announce today, the Committee to close the door to the withdrawal of candidates from the electoral process, as well as the closure of the registration of the names of candidates' agents, who represent them in the follow-up to the electoral commissions and the process of counting votes.

In detail, the Emirates Committees of the National Election Commission will close the end of working hours today, receiving applications for the withdrawal of candidates for the elections of the Federal National Council, indicating the continuation of all candidates who have not announced their withdrawal, in the electoral process until the adoption of the final list of winners on 13 October.

The Assistant Undersecretary for Federal National Council Affairs at the Ministry of Federal National Council Affairs, member and rapporteur of the National Elections Commission, Dr. Saeed Al-Ghafli, confirmed that the decision to withdraw from the electoral process is a personal matter of the same candidate, pointing out that the executive instructions do not give the National Elections Commission the right to ask any candidate Withdrawal of the reasons or motives for his withdrawal.

The period following the closure of the registration door for those wishing to run, through the announcement of the initial lists of candidates, and the announcement of the final lists, and until the closure of the door withdrawals, the announcement of a number of candidates from various emirates of the state, retreating from the electoral process for various reasons, including the lack of adequate preparation for the election , Or to support other candidates.

Al Ghafli said in an exclusive statement to Emirates Today: `` The National Election Commission views the withdrawal of candidates as a matter for the candidate himself to make such a decision.Therefore, the executive instructions for the elections of the Federal National Council 2019, opened the door for candidates during the period from the fourth to the 15 September 2019 to make their decision to withdraw from the candidacy for membership of the Federal National Council or continue their electoral program ».

Al-Ghafli revealed that the National Election Commission has received three requests from three national bodies to monitor the elections, which have been approved, explaining that the Emirates Association of Lawyers and Jurists and the Emirates Human Rights Society will monitor the elections, while representatives from the Shura Council of Sharjah Children will attend to follow up and see Voting processes.

According to the timetable of the electoral process, the National Election Commission (NEC) today announced that the registration of candidates' agents, which was set by the National Elections Commission (NEC), will be closed from September 4 to 15.

The National Election Commission, in Article (27) of the executive instructions for the elections of the Federal National Council, the right of each candidate to choose an agent from among the members of the electoral body of the emirate of the same candidate, provided that applications for the selection of candidates agents to the Emirate Committee, According to the approved form (application for power of attorney for a candidate).

The committee pointed out that the candidate should be released by the notary, through a notary public, or a public power of attorney, noting that the role of the agent starts during the voting days, as he has the right to enter the voting committees to follow up the voting process and monitor the counting process on behalf of the candidate. , Which is usually in the president's voting center.

On the other hand, candidates continue their propaganda campaigns, which enter its seventh day, amid competition in all means of advertising, to gain the confidence of voters, and persuade them to their electoral programs.

During the first week of the campaign, the majority of candidates held ceremonial events, during which they launched their campaigns, some in their own councils, some in their campaign headquarters, and others in the halls and convention centers of major hotels.

Instructional Videos

The National Elections Commission, on its electronic accounts on social media platforms, broadcast a number of instructional videos to remind candidates of the rules of the election campaigns, during which they confirmed the right of each candidate to express himself, and to carry out any activity aimed at persuading voters to choose him, and to publicize his election program freely, provided that Values ​​and principles of society, and adherence to the rules, regulations and decisions in force.

According to the instructional videos, the commission prohibited spending on electoral advertising from public funds, or from the budget of ministries, institutions, companies, public bodies, and other official bodies of the state. It also prohibited the use of public institutions and facilities for electoral advertising, while allowing the candidate to receive donations from natural or legal persons. Only UAE nationals, provided that these donations do not exceed the spending limit set on advertising campaigns, the candidate must submit a statement of any donations received to the Emirate Committee.

Candidates announced their retreat from the electoral process, partly because of lack of preparedness or support for other candidates.