Elections in Bahrain

Bahrain will be witnessing the first steps on municipal elections following a cessation that lasted more than 30 years, when the municipal councils in the 1960s were dissolved prior to the independence of Bahrain in 1971.

For one week, the five main election centers in the country will receive nomination applications for the elections which will be held on May 9th.

These elections are of special importance not only because they are being held after a long cessation, rather because of providing woman the right to nomination and election.

Reports expect that number of women nominated themselves for these elections will not be less that 40.

However, despite the fact that the first municipal law in Bahrain was issued in 1920, women could only take part in the election in 1951 when an amendment on the municipal law was introduced at that time.

Moreover, the coming municipal elections are considered as an introduction" for the parliamentary elections to be held in October this year. The civil societies especially women ones which were established in the 1950s and the recent political societies, both shoulder the task of disseminating awareness and election education among citizens and urging them to take part in this field and to cast their votes.