1. Electoral propaganda is one of the most important aspects of democratic practice in the electoral process, as it plays a significant role in the electoral campaigns of candidates with various affiliations and orientations, in order to influence the mind-set of public opinion and build specific positions on issues related to the general situation and the concerns of voters. This is achieved by various modern media and means: audio, visual, and printed, especially social media. 2. Decree-Law No. (15) of 2002 on the Shura Council and the House of Representatives and its amendments, regulated electoral propaganda and campaign in Chapter Three, thereof. Article (22), and the subsequent articles, set forth the provisions and controls of electoral campaigns. The most important of which is that the election campaign must be free, with the candidate’s compliance with a set of controls in the exercise of electoral propaganda; foremost among which is adherence to the provisions of the Constitution, respect for the rule of law, and respect the freedom of opinion and thought of others. 3. Article (23) of the same law followed to lay down the controls on the candidates’ advertisements, including posters and electoral statements, the places allotted to them and the equal advertisement spaces for the candidates. In order to ensure a neutral stance of the State in relation to election campaigns, the same Law in Article (24) prohibits government employees, public bodies and institutions, and the heads of municipal councils and their members from carrying out electoral propaganda in favor of any candidate in their place of work, either directly or indirectly. 4. Article (25) of the same Law also prohibits the candidate from receiving any funds for election propaganda from any party, both from within and outside the Kingdom. Article (26) of the same Law also requires that all the media: video, audio, printed, and other, treat all candidates on equal basis to ensure their impartiality and to be free from any bias to any of the candidates. 5. Finally, under Article (27) of the Law, all election propaganda activities in all parts of the Kingdom must cease 24 hours before the date of the ballot. This period is known as the “electoral silence”. No candidate is allowed to appear in the media to speak about any matter related to the elections, or to engage in any activity, or to take any action that falls within the context of electoral promotion and propaganda to win the voters, especially meeting in tents and electoral centers. 6. In order to complete the provisions regulating the electoral campaign, Ministerial Decision No. (77) of 2006 on organizing the election campaign for elections of the House of Representatives and 43

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