Emiratis to staff polling stations

Volunteers must learn about the role FNC plays

ABU DHABI // Polling stations at October’s FNC election are to be staffed by trained Emirati volunteers.

The National Election Committee and the Higher Colleges of Technology have created a one-week training programme that UAE nationals must complete to qualify as volunteers. The volunteers, who must be at least 21 years of age, will be taught about the role of the FNC and the training will also cover information on what the work at an election polling station entails, how to deal with voters and education on the laws governing elections.

Meanwhile, an NEC official has warned prospective FNC members against illegal practices ahead of the election.

These practices include racial intolerance, buying votes by way of gifts and promises and exaggerations in campaigns that may lead to slander and insults, according to Al Ittihad,

The National’s Arabic-language sister newspaper. Many candidates for the 2011 election admitted to offering expensive gifts and cash to voters.

DUBAI // Emiratis are being called upon to participate in this year’s Federal National Council elections by volunteering at polling stations.

The National Election Committee ( NEC) wants as many people as possible to get involved in this third FNC election, which will be, by far, the biggest yet.

With the help of the Higher Colleges of Technology, the NEC has tailored a training programme that nationals must complete if they are to qualify as volunteers helping out in the country’s elections. All those who undergo the programme will receive a certificate that is the first of its kind in this field in the UAE. The week- long programme will enrich Emiratis’ knowledge about the Tamkeen initiative, laid down by the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Tamkeen was first introduced in 2005 as a means to gradually increase political participation in the country.

It follows major constitutional changes made by the President in articles governing the FNC, by increasing its term from two to four years and by introducing elections for the first time in the country to allow half of the 40 FNC members to be voted in by the Emirati public.

Emiratis will be taught about the role of the FNC, which is still relatively unknown by the public at large.

The training will also cover information about what the work at an election polling station entails, how to deal with the voters and education on the laws governing elections.

Those who wish to volunteer must be committed to working at the polling stations as part of a team on election day, which is October 3, be at least 21 years old, a UAE national and attend every training session, as well as passing the course. The conditions do not require Emiratis to be eligible to vote.

During the elections in 2011, Emiratis were able to volunteer through Takatof but did not go through an official training course like the one offered this year.

On election day, some volunteers ended up working for more than 12 hours.

This year, volunteers will have their work cut out because the number of polling stations is likely to increase from the 11 in use at the previous elections.

The number of eligible voters is 66 per cent higher than at the last elections, with 224,279 Emiratis being able to cast their ballot . The hope is that turnout will also be greater than in 2011, when it was a mere 28 per cent.

Emiratis will need a passport photo, a copy of their passport and their Emirates ID to register for the training programme. Registration can be made at sis.cert.ae/nec or by calling 02 404 8681.

The NEC has also asked government institutes across the country to call on nationals to register for the training programme as they aim to “increase Emirati participation at the elections”. Training will be held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ruwais, Fujairah, Al Ain, and Ras Al Khaimah.

The NEC could not be reached for comment.

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