Omani voters cast their ballots on Sunday to elect the members of the Shura Council’s tenth term. Voting took place without papers or boxes, using an updated version of an electronic platform, which was inaugurated for the first time in 2019.
In addition to the voting process, the application was used to register voters, announce the lists, and complete the candidates’ applications.
The Oman Telecommunications Company confirmed that the protective systems are working with high efficiency and that no attempts at cyber-attacks have been recorded.
According to the final electoral lists, 843 candidates, including 32 women, competed in these elections to choose the 90 members of the Shura Council, while the total number of voters reached 753,690. Last Sunday, Omani nationals living abroad cast their votes electronically.
The Omani Shura Council, which was established in 1991 as a substitute for a consultative council established in 1981, is elected for a four-year term and has the powers to review, propose and amend the state’s public and economic policies.
The council, however, does not interfere in matters related to defense, internal security, and foreign policy. The elected council, together with the appointed State Council, forms the “Council of Oman”.