AN ANTI-CORRUPTION watchdog is calling on the government to provide it with a list of all of Bahrain’s eligible voters so that it can better monitor the upcoming national elections.

At present, voters’ lists are distributed only to candidates running in the polls after they file nominations at one of the five registration centres located in each governorate.

But according to the Bahrain Transparency Society (BTS), these lists should also be given to civil societies that operate in a monitoring capacity, so that they can keep track of who has cast their ballot and uncover any possible voter fraud.

“BTS successfully monitored the 2002, 2006 and 2010 elections and released a set of reports that stated its observations,” society president Abdulnabi Al Ekry told the GDN.

“This time we want to raise the issue again with election officials that a voters’ list should be provided to all groups monitoring the elections.”

Mr Al Ekry said a copy of the list would at least give his society an idea of how many people are due to cast their votes in the polls, due to be held in November.

“We are preparing all the logistics required at the moment to go ahead with our election monitoring programme,” he said.

“The society has applied for funds from the government in order to go ahead with the process and train monitors.

“During 2010, BTS had to use BD5,000 of its own funds to monitor the elections.

“According to the rules, monitors must be Bahraini, have no criminal record and have no affiliation to any political society.

“Our aim is to have a good mix of young men and women to be part of the election monitoring team.

“This is our professional duty and let me make it clear that we are not complacent with the government,” Mr Al Ekry added.

During previous elections, both BTS and the Bahrain Human Rights Society have trained hundreds of monitors and released
reports highlighting all kinds of violations.

After the 2010 elections, the National Institution for Human Rights reported on a string of violations witnessed by its 151 monitors – these included veiled women facing trouble casting their votes in certain areas, the distribution of gifts featuring pictures of candidates to voters and even children campaigning on behalf of candidates outside polling centres.

Legalisation and Legal Opinion Commission president Abdulla Al Buainain said last month that identity cards will be issued to monitors nominated by non-governmental organisations and human rights groups so that they can conduct their work, uncovering violations.

Mr Al Buainain urged all interested groups to register with the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry ahead of the elections.

More than 318,000 Bahrainis were eligible to cast their vote in the 2010 elections, when authorities reported a turnout of “at least 67 per cent”, according to a GDN report at the time.

sandy@gdn.com.bh