MC elections: 731,767 voters to pick 126 members tomorrow

The Sultanate of Oman will witness the elections for members of municipal councils for the third term, which starts from 8 am to 7 pm on Sunday.

A total of eligible 731,767 voters will pick 126 representatives from 727 candidates, including 27 women.

The 'Intakhib vote' application was designed according to security standards, taking all precautions to vote confidentially, and it requires the availability of a smartphone equipped with a "Near Field Communication (NFC) feature, an internet connection, and a valid ID card. The voter should have his name in the electoral register.

The application, which is available in the electronic stores of smartphones for IOS and Android phones, can be downloaded, as it requires taking a photo of the voter’s original

ID card from both sides.

The Ministry of Interior had previously announced the readiness of all committees operating in the municipal council elections for the third term, and full readiness for the electoral process on the voting day, which was set on December 25 for voters in the Sultanate of Oman.

The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of the Interior, was able to develop new voting for these elections.

Elections for 2012/16 were through ballot boxes with the technology used to complete the final sorting, as it reduced the time and speed of announcing the results.

For the term 2017/2022, registration was done electronically and electronic voting machines were used in all polling centers.

This time, (2023/2026) voting will be done via the mobile application, which allows voters to cast their votes in the municipal council elections easily and smoothly.

As per the final list, 103,949 voters in the Governorate of Muscat will choose 12 candidates from a list of 85.

84,818 voters in the Governorate of Dhofar will choose 20 candidates from a list of 145.

11,864 voters in the Governorate of Musandam will choose 8 candidates from a list of 22.

16,696 voters in the Governorate of Buraimi will choose 6 candidates from a list of 20.

83,338 voters in the Governorate of Dakhiliyah will choose 18 candidates from a list of 85.

148,849 voters in the Governorate of North Al Baitnah will choose 12 candidates from a list of 97.

91,988 voters in the Governorate of South al Batinah will choose 12 candidates from a list of 49.

75,729 voters in the Governorate of South Al Sharqiyah will choose 10 candidates from a list of 61.

63,358 voters in the Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah will choose 14 candidates from a list of 45.

Majed Al-Abri, a technical specialist at the Ministry of Interior, said that the application will work on networks operating in the Sultanate of Oman only, and it cannot be accessed from outside the Sultanate of Oman.

Omani voters who are outside the Sultanate of Oman cast their votes on December 18 in the municipal council elections for the third term, through the “Intakhib vote” application.

A number of experts and citizens commended the efforts taken by the Ministry of Interior in the municipal council elections and its keenness on the utilization of advanced technology in the electoral process.

Specialists affirmed that Intakhib mobile application would ensure the participation of a large number of eligible voters.