Bahrain heads to the polls to pick parliamentary and municipal representatives

More than half of Bahrain’s 360,000 eligible voters were expected to head to the kingdom’s 54 polling stations yesterday to elect parliamentary and municipal representatives.

Voters cast ballots for the 293 candidates, including 41 women, running for a spot in the 40-seat parliament as well as about 200 others for local council seats. Polls were expected to close at 8pm local time.

“These elections have registered the highest number of parliamentary candidates since the return of parliamentary life in 2002, while 50,000 young men and women have participated in the elections for the first time,” said Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, head of the Supreme Elections Committee.

Sheikh Khalid said the voter turnout was 67 per cent, compared to 53 per cent for the last polls, state TV said.

Only 23 of the 40 incumbent MPs are on the ballot, indicating that whatever the result the make-up of the legislature will be different. The vote comes at a crucial time for the island nation that is seeking to attract foreign investment and improve its economy.

This year, Bahrain received a multimillion-dollar cash injection from Saudi Arabia to help bolster public finances.

It has also discovered the country’s largest oil and gasfield and is looking for foreign partners to begin exploitation.

Rights groups and activists have criticised the process after two main opposition groups — Shiite majority Al Wefaq and the secular Waad movement — were barred last May from fielding candidates.

The government denies banning political discussion, saying that there are 16 political societies in the country and most have registered candidates for this year’s vote.

Al Wefaq withdrew its 18 parliamentarians during the 2011 protests. They have called for a boycott of these elections citing political marginalisation.

To avoid questions of political legitimacy, the government has tried to convince Shiites to turn up despite the boycott. It has encouraged candidates to run as independents, to draw out the Shiite vote.

“These elections are a test to see how willing the majority Shiite population is to participate despite the opposition boycott and the steps taken by the government against such groups in recent years,” said Miriam Goldman Eps, head of intelligence at Le Beck, a consultancy group based in Bahrain.

The Interior Ministry also called on Bahrainis to disregard rumours and seek “trusted sources” for information.

“Text messages saying your name has been removed and calling on you not to vote are false,” the ministry said in a Twitter post.

The ministry later accused Iran of sending the messages, saying it was “the source of 40,000 e-messages to disturb the parliamentary and municipal elections”.

At least six people were detained and charged this month for “obstructing the electoral process”, according to Bahrain’s public prosecutor.

Under the 2002 constitution, 40 citizens will be elected to the Council of Representatives. They will be joined by 40 royal appointees to Bahrain’s upper house.

The upper chamber has the power to block legislation by the lower house. The lower house has the authority to examine and pass legislation proposed by the king or cabinet.