5. Concerning the municipal affairs, Article No. (13) of Decree-Law No. (3) of 2002 on the system of
election of members of municipal councils, as amended, stipulates that, “The date of election of
the members of municipal councils shall be determined by a decision of the Prime Minister,
including the date of opening and closing nominations. This Decision shall be published in the
Official Gazette at least thirty days before the date set for holding the elections.”
6. Pursuant to the provisions of the above mentioned Article, the Prime Minister’s Decree No. (31)
of 2018 of was issued, specifying the date of election and nomination for the membership of the
municipal councils. Article (1) thereof, states that, “Voters whose names are registered in the
voters’ lists in accordance with the provisions of Decree-Law No. (3) of 2002 on the system of
election of members of municipal councils, are invited to attend the ballot and counting stations
to elect the members of the municipal councils on Saturday 24/11/2018 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
In cases that require run-off election, the run-off will take place on Saturday, 1/12/2018 from 8:00
am to 8:00 pm.”
7. It is worth mentioning that the above-mentioned Resolution of the Prime Minister was issued on
24 September 2018 and published in the Official Gazette on 26 September 2018 pursuant to the
provisions of Article No. (13) of Decree-Law No. (3) of 2002 on the system of election of members of
municipal councils and its amendments.
8. Extrapolating from the above mentioned constitutional and legal provisions and stipulations,
the NIHR believes that the Royal Order determining the date for election and candidacy for the
membership of the House of Representatives, and the Resolution of the Prime Minister determining
the date for election and candidacy for the membership of the municipal councils were issued within
the specified constitutional and legal periods. This reaffirms the genuine and sincere intention of
the highest-ranking political leadership to further promote democratic life since the onset of the
reform project of His Majesty the King - may God preserve him - in respect for the constitutional
decisions as the highest document in the legal system of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
9. Pursuant to the provisions of Article No. (17) of Decree-Law No. (14) of 2002 on the Exercise of
Political Rights, as amended, which states that, “The Kingdom of Bahrain shall, in the application
of the provisions of this Law, be divided into a number of constituencies, each consisting of
a number of electoral districts. Each electoral district shall elect one member. A decree shall
be issued defining the constituencies, electoral districts, and their boundaries, and the number
of subcommittees required to conduct the ballot and counting processes. The subcommittees
shall comprise a chair chosen from among the judicial body or legislators working for the State
ministries, government corporations, and general organizations, and two members, one of
them will be the secretary general of the committee. The Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs,
and Endowments shall issue a decision appointing the chairs and members of the committees,
as well as their headquarters. The decision shall also specify the eligible person acting in lieu
of the chair in his/her absence or inability to carry out the job. The Executive Director of the
elections shall appoint a number of employees to help such committees in carrying out its duties
according to the needs of each committee ....”
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