Kuwaiti voters prepare to cast their votes in the parliamentary elections (Kuwait News Agency)

Voters in Kuwait began voting today, Thursday, to elect new members of the National Assembly after the Emir of the country, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, dissolved the previous parliament in mid-February.

These are the fourth parliamentary elections since December 2020 and the first after Sheikh Mishal assumed the reins of power as Emir of Kuwait at the end of last year.

Voting began at 12 noon today, and will continue until 12 p.m. local time, after which the vote counting process will begin.

About 835,000 male and female voters have the right to participate in voting to choose the 50 members of the National Assembly in 5 electoral districts for a four-year term. 200 male and female candidates compete for seats in the National Assembly, and the candidates who obtain the first ten places in each district win membership in Parliament.

Elections are held under judicial supervision and according to the one-vote system, which means that each voter has the right to cast his vote for only one candidate.

The elderly flock in the spirit of youth to the polls to cast their votes

(Photo event) https://t.co/IfeKKIq11Y#Nation_2024#KUNA #Kuwait pic.twitter.com/KvShWvzpqk

- KUNA (@kuna_ar) April 4, 2024

The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, urged Kuwaitis to participate in these elections, and the Emir dissolved the previous parliament two months after assuming power last December, as the Security Council entering into confrontations with governments often leads to its dissolution.

Reuters quoted Kuwaiti political analyst Saleh Al-Saeedi as saying that the rate of change in the new parliament ranges between 20 and 30%, meaning between 10 and 15 new representatives. He pointed out that successive elections reduce the rate of change and do not give a greater opportunity for new faces.

Although voting takes place at the end of the month of Ramadan, writer and political analyst Hussein Abdel Rahman told Al Jazeera Net a few days ago that the level of participation will be the same as in previous elections, and may reach 65 or 70%.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies