Frances came and picked me up and we drove to the polling station in our neighbourhood to cast my vote. The ample car parking made the process of reaching the venue easy; even considering the muck left over after the rains earlier in the day.
We negotiated the path from the car park to inside the school where polling was taking place, walked into the hall and then almost immediately to the checkpoint where they scanned the barcode off my CPR card, made sure that my name is on the electoral list and handed me the two polling papers; one for the municipal and the second for parliamentary elections.
The electoral papers had clear pictures of the candidates with large check boxes and candidate’s names each in an individual block which is amply separated from other candidates’. This reduced the chances of selecting the wrong box.
I went to one of the many non-curtained booths and made my selection, watched from a dais by the judges and other officials, then I walked to the ballot boxes and deposited the papers in their appropriate box and walked out.
The whole process from leaving home until coming back again did not take more than 20 minutes!
This is a big credit to the organisers. The whole process was easy, clear and very fast.
From what I saw there was no chance that one could tinker with ballots or boxes because of the open and transparent way the event and the hall were structured. There were quite a number of people milling about outside the school which made it a bit difficult to negotiate a path with a walking stick, but there wasn’t much pushing and shoving. I would have liked for people to move on, but I guess everybody is excited and wanted to be there for the count, which is only a couple of hours away. But apart from that, the whole process was very well organised and I couldn’t really complain, nor would anyone else I would think.
Well done organisers, and good luck to all candidates.
I hope we won’t have to countdown the days for the next elections just to rid ourselves from another impotent and sectarian parliament!
Comments
The process was pretty quick, I’m just wondering when we are going to find out who wins and all those stats… The rumors for the new ministers are starting to float … and I must admit this is a very interesting time in our history. In many respects I honestly think its a turning point. Or like Benjamin Franklin used to stay as they were drafting the US constitution after the days they’ve spent on it “I look out the window and wonder if the sun is rising or setting” … I must admit I’m hopeful. Hopeful, because in 1998 I honestly never thought everything that did happen …. happened. But, like anyone else I look at Formula 1 and think if we can compete on that stage with Doha, China, Russia, and win… if we can organize the best race, with all that it takes to do so. From Airport, to Traffic, to Police, to Planning, etc etc etc…. we can do much more than we have already done. I think the next year will define this country for the next few decades. Hopefully, towards a less extreme (From Both ends) more tolerant, more educated place – Where everyone gets an opportunity to succeed………Otherwise I’m just gonna have to move to Dubai!!
How long before we see a countdown till we kick the parliment out?.
I honostly wish these guys well and hope they will have the heart, will and power to change things for the better.
On the other hand, Mahmood enough with the sad story about your walking stick….you aint that old buddy….
I share your hopes guys, and Romster, point taken. I shall desist!
However, do look at Adel’s list and brace yourself or a very worrying 4 years ahead of us if his list comes through, which I hope with all the powers that are in me that it is not.
Adel Marzooq is the political editor of Al-Wasat, so I must defer to him as he is a much more educated political observer than I. You will see from his list and ALL of those that I desperately wish to get into parliament are out, the majority from the first round.
The list is shocking with the very first name, as that one suggests that Ibrahim Sharif won’t get through, and it’s more and more disappointing as you go down.
My wish is that at least the following will get through:
1. Ibrahim Sharif
2. Abdulrahman Al-Noaimi
3. Sami Siyadi
4. Munira Fakhro
5. Aziz Abul
6. Ali Al-Ayoubi
7. Mohammed Shuwaiter
8. Abdulnabi Salman
9. Jassim Abdulaal
10. Ali Salman
11. Jassim Hussain
According to Adel, the above list is simply wishful thinking.
But the polls have another 85 minutes to close, and by this time tomorrow we should have a fair idea how the next four years will be like.
Sorry Adel, I do hope – still – that you are wrong in your assessment.
apparently the isa town spot was pretty crowded and it took ppl long to get everything done. but as u said all smooth…
It was pretty crowded in Riffa this morning, but the entire thing took less than 15 minutes.
I wish we won’t see alot of Santas :p
Hi I am from England and have bean out here 6 weeks and have watched your election with interest. We were in seef mall to day and not only were the people checked in using computers so there will be a data base of people that voted but there were people counting out the voters now as long as the to match it will be fair as far as we can see
I made observations of one generic station at a noon time interval, and, spent as much turn-around time as you did. My observtions were very similar to yours. A voting friend of mine mentioned similar observations as ours. His experience pertained to just before 6 PM, in a specific polling station, in the Capital area.
As to your stated wish about the properties of the upcoming majlis being, now you know and have stated that the outcome is bastard. I agree. So much so that I think by 31/12/2007, the up coming majlis will be part of Bahrain’s unlucky history. And it had better be so, based on the observed tally in the first round.