UAE’s National Election Committee (NEC) has adopted the Electoral College for the Federal National Council (FNC) Elections 2015 constituting 224,279 members, an increase of 66 per cent compared to the 2011 elections.

The Electoral College includes 90,408 members from Abu Dhabi, 53,568 from Dubai, 31,766 from Sharjah, 6,090 from Ajman, 4,105 from Umm Al Quwain, 27,455 from Ras Al Khaimah, and 10,887 members from Fujairah.

The Electoral College list will be published by the NEC today (July 6) on its website aenec.ae and its smart app (National Election Committee) available on Apple Store and Google Play. Citizens can verify their names on the Electoral College of their respective emirate, searching either by Emirate ID Number or their full name as mentioned on the ID or the first three segments of their name.

Majority of the members are below 40 years, representing 67 per cent of the Electoral College. At the emirate level they constitute 85 per cent of the members in Fujairah, followed by 67 per cent in Abu Dhabi and 70 per cent in Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. In Umm Al Quwain they make up 69 per cent of the members and in Dubai 59 per cent.

Up to 52 per cent of members in the Electoral College are men while women make up the remaining 48 per cent. The male-female ratio in each of the emirates is as follows: Abu Dhabi 47 per cent men and 53 per cent women; Dubai 49 per cent men and 51 per cent women; Sharjah 53 per cent men and 47 per cent women; Ajman 54 per cent men and 46 per cent women; Umm Al Quwain 60 per cent men and 40 per cent women; Ras Al Khaimah 65 per cent men and 35 per cent women; and Fujairah 64 per cent men and 36 per cent women.

Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Federal National Council and Chairman of the National Election Committee, said the announcement confirms the determination of the UAE to promote political participation in the country. “The country has adopted a gradual political approach to develop parliamentary experience, matching the unique cultural experience of the UAE community in all areas,” he said.

Dr Gargash pointed out that the announcement of the names in the Electoral College is part of the major efforts taken by the NEC to provide all possibilities and means to contribute to the success of the electoral process. It is also a step towards ensuring that the Federal National Council experience is more representative and closer to the issues and concerns of the citizens.

The NEC is keen to ensure the selection of active members who are able to reverse the societal issues thoroughly and transparently and find effective and appropriate solutions, Dr Gargash said. - TradeArabia News Service