KUWAIT: Polling stations opened on Thursday in Kuwait as citizens participate in the country’s first election since Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah assumed power late last year. The election marks a significant moment in Kuwait’s political landscape, with voters set to select representatives for the National Assembly’s 18th legislative term.
The polls, which represent the fourth round of elections since December 2020, will remain open until midnight local time, as reported by the state news agency KUNA. Eligible voters, totaling 834,733 persons, will choose from 200 candidates vying for 50 seats in parliament. Notably, Kuwait maintains a ban on political parties, necessitating that all candidates run as independents.
The electoral constituencies are distributed as follows: the first constituency has 104,038 voters with 41 candidates, the second constituency has 95,302 voters with 39 candidates, the third constituency has 143,693 voters with 32 hopefuls, the fourth constituency boasts 220,932 voters and 48 candidates, and the fifth constituency comprises 270,768 eligible voters and 40 candidates.
Ballot boxes are stationed at 123 designated schools across Kuwait, facilitating the voting process for citizens throughout the country. The elections represent a pivotal moment for Kuwait’s democratic process, allowing citizens to exercise their right to vote and shape the future direction of their nation’s governance.
