KUWAIT: A limited
number of people turned out at polling stations to vote in the early hours
after voting started for by-elections in the second and third constituencies.
Only senior citizens voted until noontime, said informed sources, noting that
the process started at 8 am. The sources added that observers from the Arab
Network for Democratic Elections (ANDE) were present at Al-Maamoun school in
Kaifan, while Ministry of Interior (MoI) officials toured the polling stations
to check security measures.

National Assembly
Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem praised the by-election and described it as a
'democratic festival.' In a statement to reporters after casting his vote in
the Second Constituency, Ghanem called on everyone to "cast their votes
for those who see the best candidates to represent them in parliament." He
stressed that the parliamentary task is not easy as it requires a lot of effort
to achieve the aspirations of the citizens.

Meanwhile,
Minister of Justice Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Dr Fahad
Al-Afasi said that he found no significant issues during his tour of the ballot
stations. He lauded judges and State officials for supervising the polling
process that kicked off early today and continued hours later, with voters
showing up at the centers to cast their votes.

Speaking to
reporters, former finance minister Mustafa Al-Shamali, who voted in Abdullah
Al-Salem School, expressed good wishes to all candidates. Chancellor Jamal
Al-Meer, who was at Abdullah bin Masoud School, said that only 45 voters had
cast their votes by 9:30 am.

Security
commander at the main committee in the second constituency Lt Col Jarrah
Al-Habashi stressed that the polling process was going smoothly and that MoI
had prepared for it days earlier. Head of the main committee in Kaifan's men
polling station Najeeb Al-Mulla said only 28 out of 745 voters had cast their
votes in the morning period.

Chancellor
Owayyed Al-Thowamer said only 18 voters showed up at the women's polling
station at Boubyan Intermediate School. Chancellor Khaled Al-Mandeel said only
22 out of 916 voters had cast their votes in the morning period at Fatima bint
Al-Waleed School, while at Qurtuba Secondary School for girls, only 21 out of
the 852 voters showed up.

Notably, several
candidates' representatives filed complaints over allowing the entry of
children into polling stations to distribute promotional flyers of certain
candidates, to which security forces immediately responded and ordered all the
children out.

In the meantime,
Ministry of Health (MoH) assistant undersecretary for medical services affairs
Dr Fawwaz Al-Refae said there was constant coordination with the medical
emergencies department's operation room to handle any urgent medical cases
during the elections. Speaking to reporters, Refae said that all hospitals and
clinics are on full alert to deal with any urgent cases, in addition to the
presence of 16 temporary clinics, 10 ambulances and 62 paramedics at all voting
centers.

By-election were
held yesterday to fill seats in the second and third constituencies. The two
seats have been vacant since a court order was issued against MPs Dr Waleed
Al-Tabtabaie and Dr Jamaan Al-Herbesh, stripping them both of their membership
in the National Assembly. Up to 47 nominees, including five women, vied to
occupy the two seats. There were 18 candidates, including one female citizen,
in the second constituency. In the third, 29 candidates, including four
females, competed. Authorities have transformed buildings of 38 schools into
ballot stations, while MoH stationed medical teams at the voting centers.

By Meshaal
Al-Enezi