Women candidates warned against addressing voters directly

JEDDAH: Election officials have warned all 366 registered women candidates against addressing voters directly. They have asked them to appoint agents to do this on their behalf.
The officials have also directed these candidates to create separate sections for men and women at their campaign headquarters.
The officials said that violators of gender segregation rules will be fined SR10,000.
The elections will take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Dec. 12 with the results being announced the following day.
Judiea Al-Qahtani, the election commission spokesman, has asked all female candidates to acquire permits for their advertising campaigns, and to allocate special sections for men in their election headquarters.
He also requested them to abide by Shariah law by not mixing with men at their election headquarters. He also urged them to avoid publishing their photos in any election campaign material.
Al-Qahtani stressed that both male and female candidates who wish to present their election programs to male voters should appoint representatives or contract special companies to manage their advertising campaigns on their behalf.
“The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has a special section for issuing permits to companies that manage advertising campaigns for election candidates,” he said.
According to Al-Qahtani, the election commission bylaws define a number of violations that are punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of SR50,000, or both. These violations include using force or threats to obstruct election procedures or to prevent workers from performing their duties; hiding or destroying election documents or ballot boxes; buying votes or selling them, or offering gifts or money to voters; inflicting harm on election facilities or their technical apparatus; receiving funds from foreign bodies; impersonating others during the voting process; inflicting harm on the election headquarters of other candidates or their advertising campaigns.