Manama: The Bahrain Institute for Political Development (IPA) concluded a specialised workshop on the electoral system in Bahrain, as part of the first phase of the National Programme for Parliamentary and Municipal Elections. The initiative targeted individuals interested in running in the upcoming elections, aiming to raise legal and electoral awareness and enhance participants' readiness to engage in the electoral process with efficiency and comprehensive knowledge.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the workshop was presented by Assistant Advisor Abdullah Issa Malallah, a member of the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission. Malallah reviewed the historical development of the electoral process in the Kingdom from its beginnings in the 1920s to the current legislative and constitutional system governing parliamentary and municipal elections in Bahrain.
Malallah provided a detailed explanation of the legal framework regulating the electoral process, including the Law on the Exercise of Political Rights, the Shura and Representatives Council Law, and the Law on the System for Electing Members of Municipal Councils. He also reviewed the guarantees provided by the Bahraini legislator for the integrity of the electoral process at various stages, from preparing voter lists to nomination processes, electoral campaigns, voting, counting, and announcing results.
The workshop also addressed the standards of transparency and integrity that define the electoral process in the Kingdom. This includes full judicial supervision, the role of the Legislation and Legal Opinion Authority in managing elections, and the allowance of civil monitoring.
Legal controls related to electoral propaganda were also discussed, including prohibitions on the use of public facilities, places of worship, and educational institutions, as well as the obligation not to attack candidates or harm national unity.
The workshop concluded with a comprehensive review of electoral crimes and appeals, explaining the violations that may occur during the registration, nomination, voting, and counting stages, and the penalties prescribed for them according to legislation. The mechanism for appealing before competent courts and the pivotal role of the judiciary in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process were also clarified.
This workshop is part of the IPA's efforts to enhance legal and electoral awareness among potential candidates and to support responsible participation in the upcoming elections, aligning with the political development process in the Kingdom.