Overseas voting enhances political participation, official says

Source: 
Gulf News
Publication date: 
Aug 25 2015

Abu Dhabi: As a part of the preparations by the National Election Committee (NEC) for the Federal National Council elections, the UAE Embassies and diplomatic missions abroad have commenced work to conduct the voting process.

In line with the framework of coordination between NEC and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the procedures guide and ballot boxes for the elections have been dispatched to UAE diplomatic missions abroad.

Mohammad Mir Al Raisi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that voting at the diplomatic missions outside the UAE is an unprecedented move to enhance the participation of the Electoral College members by facilitating them to exercise their right to choose their representatives in the Federal National Council.

Al Raisi added that the UAE citizens who live abroad and whose names appear in the Electoral College can vote and participate in the Federal National Council elections 2015 at 94 diplomatic missions outside UAE on September 20 and 21, two weeks before the date of the elections in the UAE. This underlines the importance of providing citizens outside the UAE the opportunity to exercise their right to vote as a part of their national responsibility.

Members of the Electoral College can vote at the headquarters of the diplomatic missions of the UAE, whether embassies or consulates.

The National Election Committee will work in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare the UAE diplomatic missions to ensure an easy and smooth electoral process from Sunday, September 20, to Monday, September 21.

Members of the Electoral College can check addresses of UAE diplomatic missions by visiting the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at www.mofa.gov.ae.

The National Election Committee invites all citizens to check their names in the lists of the Electoral College to be able to exercise their voting right on election day, by visiting the website www.uaenec.ae or by contacting the NEC call centre 600500005.

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/overseas-voting-enhances-politic...