Community efforts in the Eastern Province and Al-Hassa Region to encourage citizens to register for the municipal election are paying off, reported today Jeddah-based 'Saudi Gazette'.
During the last few days, the number of registrants in the regions has increased, said Mirza Al-Khuwaldi, an official of the Media Committee of the Electoral Council. He said this is due to the participation of citizens to persuade eligible voters to register.
He said community leaders in the Eastern Province and Al-Hassa have organized pools of buses to take citizens to the various registration centers. Religious leaders (the Imams) have also been telling citizens after the Maghrib prayer to register; usually the Imams accompanying the worshippers to the registration centers.
He said in far-flung villages, particularly those in Al-Hassa, the offer of free rides to the registration centers has encouraged many citizens. Those without transport are taking advantage of the opportunity to register. In the coastal town of Tarut and the farming village of Al-Awami in Eastern Province, for example, daily buses are available to take people to the registration centers, he said.
Khuwaldi said distribution of information materials on why people must participate in the election have been very effective in convincing citizens to register.
