Elections in Bahrain
From Freepedia
On 24 October 2002, men and women went to the polls in Bahrain to vote in parliamentary elections for the new National Assembly. The poll was the first national election in which women had the chance to vote and stand as candidates after the constitution was amended in 2002 to give them equal political rights. The elections themselves were the first after almost thirty years, and were at the core of democratic reforms launched by King Hamad when he became King in 1999.
As with the British system, the National Assembly is bicameral with the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, having 40 members elected in single-seat constituencies for a four year term. The upper house, the Shura Council, has 40 appointed members, with the stated aim of giving a voice to minority communities and technocratic experts within the legislative process. Among the members of the current Shura Council are representatives of Bahrain's Jewish and Christian communities as well several women legislators.
According to Rulers in parliamentary elections at 24 October 2002 the Sunni Islamists and independents won 16 of 40 seats. Turnout was 53.2%. In a second round held on October 31, the independents won 12 seats and the Islamists 9. The secular representatives or independents secure a total of 21 of the 40 seats. No women candidates were elected.
Candidates ran as individuals in the 2002 elections, but are organised in parliament as members of de facto political parties known as 'political societies'.
