Voter apathy blamed on poor performing councils

JEDDAH: The low turnout of Saudis registering for the municipal elections is likely caused by the poor performance of previous councils, lack of a voting culture, inadequate understanding of the duties of councils, and the timing of the elections with the start of the academic year.

These are the reasons cited by several current and former members of the Shoura Council and municipal councils, according to a report in a local publication.
Saleh Al-Zahrani, adviser to the Minister of Interior and former Shoura Council member, said the main reason for the low turnout was the lack of confidence and satisfaction with the performance of previous councils, prompting many to lose trust and hope in their ability to solve important issues.
He said the councils are responsible for taking decisions and monitoring matters that affect citizens, but have proven to be ineffective in doing so. Many council members and leaders spend more time defending the council than meeting the demands and needs of citizens, said Al-Zahrani.
Other reasons include the timing of the elections because many people are returning to work, and complicated registration procedures, said Al-Zahrani. A successful election is determined by how much trust citizens have in the process and the ability of councils to address issues affecting them, he said.
Saad Al-Hareeqi, a member of the Shoura Council, said many people are not likely to participate because this is a new experience for them, and there is not a voting culture in the country.
In addition, he said councils have often taken certain decisions without taking into account the impact on citizens. These errors, albeit unintentional, have affected the image of councils and damaged citizens’ belief in them.
Foad Merdad, a former municipal council member and academic, said citizens lack a thorough understanding of the roles and duties of municipal councils, in turn negatively affecting the elections. Citizens are not convinced about the role of municipal councils due to their poor understanding.
He said the previous elections over the past 10 years have helped build a culture of voting in the country, “but the matter is dependent on trust. If there is trust and belief that the elected member will have a positive impact and help citizens, we might see a better turnout.”
Merdad said that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs should do more to promote awareness among citizens about the new elections and council regulations.