Omani citizens residing in Oman are gearing up to exercise their voting rights this coming Sunday as they select their representatives for the tenth term of the Shura Council. This important process is made exceptionally convenient through the "Intekhab" application, which will be accessible from 8 am to 7 pm.
The final voter lists for the tenth term of the Shura Council reveal an impressive count of 753,690 registered male and female voters, all of whom will make use of the "Intekhab" application and the dedicated elections website (elections.om). Notably, 13,843 voters have cast their ballots from locations outside the Sultanate of Oman.
A total of 843 candidates, including 32 women, are vying for positions in the tenth term of the Shura Council, aligning with the future plans, visions, and directions of the Sultanate of Oman. This term holds national significance, as it will play a pivotal role in implementing the goals of "Oman Vision 2040" across economic, investment, and developmental spheres, in addition to the objectives of the tenth five-year plan and the roadmap for the eleventh five-year plan.
This electoral event for the tenth term is a significant occasion as it marks the launch of the second version of the "Intekhab" application, introducing innovative features and enhancements. These improvements include an audio reading capability to assist those with visual disabilities and an optional sign language feature to accommodate individuals with hearing and speech impairments.
The application boasts an intuitive and user-friendly interface, along with robust security measures that incorporate state-of-the-art encryption technologies. The voter identity verification process is a meticulous three-step procedure, involving capturing images of the original ID card from both sides, reading personal card data through the NFC feature, and taking a personal photograph of the voter.
Furthermore, the application empowers voters to engage with electoral propaganda regulations, allowing them to peruse the list of candidates, track their campaign activities, and interact with them directly from the electoral headquarters.
The Ministry of Interior has spared no effort in ensuring comprehensive readiness across administrative, technical, legal, and media aspects of the electoral process. They have meticulously developed plans and strategies in close coordination with various relevant authorities to ensure a smooth and efficient electoral process.
In their communication with citizens, the Ministry emphasizes the importance of participating in the electoral process, highlighting the simplified procedures and the availability of over 12 electronic electoral services, including the dialogue arena, access to preliminary and final candidate lists, preliminary and final voter lists, verification of registration in the electoral registry, and real-time monitoring of automated counting indicators on voting day.
The application also provides valuable statistical data, presenting the percentage of voting in each region, demographic profiles of voters, and a platform to submit suggestions and reports.
The Ministry of Interior is committed to complete transparency, broadcasting real-time data and statistics on voting day, emphasizing the accuracy and transparency of the electoral process, following its comprehensive digital transformation.
The Ministry's dedicated efforts to digitize all services and programs align with their digital transformation plans, aspiring to harness advanced technologies, including the latest developments in artificial intelligence, to enhance services for citizens, candidates, and voters alike.
The current electoral process for the tenth term of the Shura Council witnesses active participation from both candidates and voters, reflecting society's profound interest and maturity in selecting their representatives for the upcoming term.
In the Muscat Governorate, there are 97,918 male and female voters registered in the electoral registry, comprising 51,208 male voters and 46,710 female voters. Moreover, 93 male and female candidates are competing for Shura Council membership in the Wilayat of Muscat Governorate for the tenth term, including 12 female candidates.
The Wilayat of Muscat has 10,257 male and female voters in the electoral registry, with 5,025 male voters and 5,232 female voters. The Wilayat of Muttrah has 14,035 registered voters, while the Wilayat of Seeb has 30,837 male and female voters. In the Wilayat of Bawshar, there are 13,023 male and female voters, and in the Wilayat of Al Amerat, 12,049 male and female voters are registered. The Wilayat of Quriyat has 17,717 male and female voters listed in its electoral registry.
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