350,581 nationals cast votes

In the elections on Sunday, 994 voting machines were distributed to 110 polling stations, including five unified voting centres in Bausher, Thamrait, Haima, Adam and Khasab, as Bausher, Thamrait and Khasab included a voting centre for females in each of them which increased the number of unified voting centres to eight, to enable voters outside their wilayats to cast their votes easily.

All technical measures have been taken to ensure the smooth running of the election process, including the provision of backup equipment and technical support for any problem that may arise. It is known that ‘Sawtak’ device keeps information in case of emergency.

The voting process went as planned despite being extended for two hours in all wilayats of the Sultanate.

He said that the Supreme Elections Commission, headed by the Vice-chairman of the Supreme Court, oversees the various stages of the election process, decides on appeals, if any, and ensures that the election process is held in accordance with the law.

The Main Elections Committee, chaired by the under-secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, makes the key efforts for preparations for elections, coordination and cooperation with other stakeholders.

“This comes within the framework of the tasks specified by the law to ensure the availability of all the organisational and logistical aspects necessary to complete the election process easily and without any interference in the voting process through the sub-committees, or interference in the counting process, which is conducted electronically and under judicial supervision”, he said.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Interior, through the Main Elections Committee, and through the Ministerial Decisions issued by the Minister of the Interior, has ensured good organisation of the stages and provided full guarantees for its transparency.

“Therefore, thanks should be given to various parties which contributed to the success of the elections. We are proud of this success because the Omani citizens showed great awareness by their remarkable turnout,” he said.

Most of the candidates who contested the elections were highly qualified with several of them holding PHD and higher degrees.

According to figures presented at the press conference, 28 candidates were PHD holders, 75 with Masters, 195 Bachelor degree holders, 65 Higher Diploma holders and 274 holders of General Education Diploma.

At the same time, the highest number of female candidates was in the Governorate of Muscat with 20 and the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah had 6.

“This reflects the awareness of the Omani women and their keenness to participate in the national work”, the secretary of the Main Committee of Elections said.

As for the number of voters for the ninth period of the Majlis Ash’shura, the total number was 713,335 voters, including 375,801 male voters and 337,534 female voters. The largest wilayat in terms of the number of voters is the Wilayat of Salalah in the Governorate of Dhofar (40,444) male and female voters, followed by the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq in the Governorate of North Al Batinah (36,149) voters.

The smallest wilayat in terms of the number of voters is the Wilayat of Al Sinaina in the Governorate of Al Buraimi (369) male and female voters, followed by the Wilayat of Maqshan in the Governorate of Dhofar (985) voters.

The biggest governorate in terms of the number of voters is the Governorate of North Al Batinah (144,719) male and female voters, followed by the Governorate of Muscat (102,104) male and female voters.

The smallest governorates in terms of the number of voters is Musandam (11,594) male and female voters, followed by the Governorate of Al Wusta (12,241) male and female voters. He added that voters elected 86 members of the Majlis Ash’shura for the ninth term, one more for the Wilayat of Liwa compared to the eighth term.

He pointed out that in light of the assurances taken by the Ministry of Interior and the Main Elections Committee and the judicial supervision of the elections through the Supreme Elections Commission, the members of the Majlis Ash’shura elected, in effect, reflect the choices of Omani voters, their hopes for the ninth term of the Majlis Ash’shura, and their discharge of their legislative and supervisory functions and powers as per the Legislative System promulgated by the Royal Decree No 101/96 on November 6, 1996 and its amendments.

Citizens’ choices are always respected by the government and various state institutions, within the framework of the integration of modern state institutions, established by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos.

“We wish further progress and prosperity to our beloved Oman under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos.”

Ahmed bin Said al Shukaili, Assistant Attorney General, Higher Committee’s member, said that the committee did not receive any complaints pertaining to the voting conducted on Sunday.

Nasser bin Sulaiman al Sibani, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Radio and Television (PART), Chairman of the Media Committee for the Elections, praised the great turnout of voters, which reflected the political awareness among individuals in the society.

He added that the voters were keen to practice their electoral right to elect their candidates to represent their wilayats in the Majlis Ash’shura. He also highlighted the participation of woman in the elections as two female candidates won, which is a positive indication for women’s participation.

The press conference was attended by Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansoor al Hasani, Minister of Information, Ali bin Khalfan al Jabri, Under-secretary of the Ministry of Information, journalists, media men, representatives of local, Arab and foreign media covering Majlis Ash’shura elections.

28 candidates were PHD holders, 75 with Masters, 195 Bachelor degree holders, 65 Higher Diploma holders, and 274 holders of General Education

The highest number of female candidates was in the Governorate of Muscat with 20 and the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah with 6