WILAYATS — Employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s 1st term elections yesterday cast their votes in the Wilayat of Yanqul to elect candidates in the Municipal Council’s 1st term membership.
The Wali of Yanqul, Head of the Electoral Committee said that the number of candidates in the wilayat stood at 16 as two members will be elected for the Municipal Council.
AL Seeb: Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah al Busaidy, Wali of Al Seeb and Head of the Electoral Committee said that the number of candidates in the wilayat stood at 49.
QurAyat: Sayyid Ahmed bin Hilal al Busaidy, Wali of Qurayat said that the e-system for voting contributes in accelerating the voting process.
Employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s 1st term elections cast their votes in the Wilayat of Nizwa.
Shaikh Hamad bin Salim al Aghbari, Wali of Nizwa said that two electoral centres are prepared; one in the centre of the Wilayat at Al Basheer bin Al Munthir School and the other one at Al Jabal Al Akhdar School in the Niyabat of Al Jabal al Akhdar.
Salalah: Employees cast their votes at the Training Centre affiliated to the Office of the Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar in the presence of Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohsen al Shanfari, Director-General of Local Affairs at the Office of the Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, Head of the Electoral Committee in the Wilayat of Salalah.
Taqah: Voters cast their votes in the presence of Shaikh Bukhait bin Said al Kathiri, Wali of Taqah, Head of the sub-Electoral Committee.
ThAmrait: Shaikh Amer bin Salim Kashoob, Wali of Thamrait and Head of the Electoral Committee affirmed that the wilayat is prepared for the voting day, which falls on December 22.
Meanwhile, the voting process for employees at the committees of the Municipal Council’s elections in Wilayats of Mirbat, Sadah, Dhalkut, Rakhyut, Maqshan, Shleem and Al Halaniyat Islands and Al Mazyouna was completed.
Members of voting and sorting committees 191 cast their votes at Wali of Al Mudhaibi Office in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah yesterday.
Shaikh Salim bin Rabea al Sunaidy, Wali of Al Mudhaibi said that the number of candidates to the Municipal Councils in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi stood at 46 as six candidates will be elected for the Municipal Councils’ membership.
More than 50 male and female participants in the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah cast their votes.
Shaikh Majid bin Sultan al Shukaili, Wali of Wadi Bani Khalid said that the number of candidates to the Municipal Councils in the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid stood at 10 including a female candidate as two out of them will be elected for the Municipal Councils.
In the Wilayat of Sohar in the Governorate of North Al Batinah, employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s 1st term elections today casttheir votes at the Wali Office.
Shaikh Hilal bin Ali al Habsi, Wali of Sohar, Head of the Electoral Committee said that the number of candidates to the Municipal Councils in the Wilayat of Sohar stood at 55 including two female candidates.
Omani voters residing at the GCC countries and students at these countries started casting their votes early today to elect whoever would represent them at the first term of the municipal councils’ First Term.
Shaikh Talal bin Saif al Hosani, Wali of Bahla said that the voting was conducted through electronic process. He praised efforts exerted by the Interior Ministry, which contributed in performance accuracy.
Employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s elections cast their votes in the Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali.
Shaikh Sulaiman bin Said al Azri, Wali of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali said that the voting process was conducted as planned in a comfortable atmosphere.
Employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s elections cast their votes in the Wilayat of Al Kamil W’al Wafi.
Employees at committees in the Wilayat of Al Khabourah cast at the Wali Office, while members of the committee of the Municipal Council’s elections cast their votes in the Wilayat of Daba in the Governorate of Musandam where 9 candidates compete for two sears representing the Municipal Councils.
Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Salim al Abd A’Salam, Wali of Al Awabi and Head of the Electoral Committee said that the number of candidates stood at 18.
Employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s elections casted their votes in the Wilayat of Ibri.
Head and members of the committees of the Municipal Council’s cast their votes in the Wilayat of Al Buraimi in the Governorate of Al Buraimi.
In the Wilayat of Shinas in the Governorate of North Al Batinah, 
employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s elections cast their votes.
Meanwhile, Shaikh Ahmed bin Abdullah al Kindi, Wali of Sumail and Head of the Electoral Committee held a meeting with heads and members of sub-committees for the Municipal Councils.
He stressed the importance of preparing for the electoral process due to be conducted next Saturday, as well as the importance of showing the ID card of the voter.
In the Wilayat of Dhank in the Governorate of Al Dhahirah, heads and members of committees for the 1st elections of the Municipal Councils cast their votes.
Shaikh Hamad bin Hamoud al Mahrouqi, Wali of Dhank and Head of the Electoral Committee met with heads and members of the sub-committees of elections during which he highlighted the importance of practicing the electoral right ensured by the law.
In the Wilayat of Adam in Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s cast their votes. Shaikh Awadh bin Abdullah al Manthri, Wali of Adam and Head of the Electoral Committee said that the number of candidates in the Wilayat of Adam stood at 13.
Employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s cast their votes in the Wilayat of Mahut in the Governorate of Al Wusta.
In the Wilayat of Al Qabil in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah, employees at committees of the Municipal Council’s 1st term elections today casted their votes.
Shaikh Hamad bin Saif al Gassasi, Wali of Al Qabil and Head of the Electoral Committee said the e-system in the voting process contributed in accelerating procedures of voting accurately.
GCC COUNTRIES: Omani voters residing at the GCC countries and students at these countries started casting their votes yesterday to elect whoever would represent them at the first term of the municipal councils’ First Term.
A large number of voters turned out to the ballot boxes at the Sultanate’s embassies in the GCC countries and the Sultanate’s Commercial Representation Office in Dubai. The ballot will take place up to 7 pm.
Omanis in Qatar started casting their votes at the Sultanate’s embassy in Doha from 8 pm. The election marks the Sultanate’s entry to a new stage of national work in its bid to promote service aspects and enhance the development process at the different wilayats and governorates.
Mohammed bin Nasser al Wahaibi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to Qatar and members of the embassy were the first to cast their votes. The Omanis working and studying in Qatar then cast their votes.
In a statement to ONA, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to Qatar said that the embassy has taken all procedures in coordination with other agencies to enable voters to cast their votes easily. He praised the remarkable response and national sense by Omanis residing in Qatar.
In Kuwait, Shaikh Salim bin Suhail al Maashani, Sultanate’s Ambassador to Kuwait who and members of the embassy cast their votes, said in a statement to ONA that the elections process went as planned from 8 am and will continue up to 7 pm.
He pointed out that the election process came in accordance with the provision of article No 6 of the Municipal Councils Act, promulgated by the Royal Decree No 116/2011 which specified the number of representatives according the Omani population for each wilayat.
He hoped that members of the municipal councils would play an important role in providing proposals and viewes that develop the municipal services and systems.
In Abu Dhabi, Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Ali al Qatabi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to UAE affirmed that the election process went very smoothly as planned by the Ministry of Interior. The use of modern systems and electronic programmes has made it easy for the voters to cast their votes.
Salim bin Mussalam bin Samhan al Kathiri, Head of the Sultanate’s Office in Dubai said that the wise leadership of His Majesty has been very keen on establishing the municipal councils to involve the Omani citizen in the national work alongside with the government.
In Riyadh, Dr Ahmed bin Hilal al Busaidy, Sultanate’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and members of the embassy cast their votes.
Dr Al Busaidy said that the Sultanate’s Embassy has been very keen on notifying the Omanis residing in Saudi Arabia of the election date either through the advertisements at different mass media. He pointed out that the response of the Omani voters residing in Saudi Arabia has been positive.
On the other hand, Nasser bin Ahmed al Saidi, a legal researcher at the Ministry of Interior said that as per the rules and regulations in place for the election, the Sultanate’s Embassy in Riyadh allocated places for voting and advised voters of the voting methods 
approved by the main committee for the first term election of the municipal councils.
The voters in Saudi Arabia said that they are happy for taking part in the elections hoping that the winners would push forward the municipal work in the Sultanate.
The Omani voters residing in Bahrain, as well as students and members of the embassy also cast their votes.
Shaikh Dr Suleiman bin Saud al Jabri, Sultanate’s Ambassador to Bahrain pointed out members of the embassy cast their votes at the Embassy HQs’, which opened its doors for voters from 8 am. In a statement to ONA, he said that the turnout to ballot boxes by Omani men and women has been "good". — ONA
