231 register to monitor Bahrain elections

More than 230 people have applied to monitor the parliamentary and municipal elections to be held in Bahrain on November 24.

The monitors represent four NGOs - Bahrain Transparency Association (BTA), Bahraini Jurists Society (BJS), Bahrain Public Relations Association (BPRA), and Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS), in addition to the National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR).

The Supreme Committee for General Supervision of the Soundness of Elections said it appreciated the work of the civil societies in monitoring past elections and was keen to cooperate with them to promote the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.

On September 30, the committee called for monitoring to be built on fieldbased supervision of the electoral process, with data collected objectively, neutrally and impartially to ensure procedures are applied properly and without violations.

The monitoring covers all stages of the election process and monitors examine the conduct of candidates, political societies and other civil institutions to ensure they abide by electoral laws.