(MENAFN- Arab News) JEDDAH: Citizens who want to participate in the upcoming municipal council elections as voters or candidates must be in possession of valid national identity cards.
Preparations for the elections which take place on Dec. 12 and will see women participate for the first time has been in full swing with local committees setting up separate election centers for men and women.
The elections are being held in accordance with international norms and standards of equality and in line with the provisions of Islamic law.
Every citizen has the right to vote if they meet certain conditions including that they are 18 years of age on election day and living in the electoral districts where they will cast their ballots.
Men and women wanting to run as candidates must be at least 25 years old register in the constituency they want to represent and have at least a high school qualification.
In addition candidates must not have been convicted for offenses which are serious violations of the law. They are also not eligible if they were fired from the public service for disciplinary reasons within three years of the election date.
The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs had earlier this year embarked on preparations for the third elections with the formation of a general committee and various local committees across the Kingdom.
There are 285 councils linked organizationally to the ministry and are legal entities with financial and administrative independence. Article 45 of the legislation sets out the powers and functions of the councils.
The municipal elections will be held between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Dec. 12 with the results announced the following day according to reports.
The whole election process including campaigning by candidates takes place over three months. Voters can register between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. from Aug. 22 to Sept. 14. Candidates can do so from Aug. 30 to Sept. 17.
Preliminary lists of candidates will be published on Sept. 30 while the last date for withdrawal is Nov. 19 when the final list of candidates will be announced.



Candidates will have 12 days for campaigning from Nov. 29 to Dec. 10 midnight. A high-level committee including three leading women has been set up to oversee the elections.