This was stated by Tariq Hilal Lootah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for FNC Affairs, Member of the NEC and Chairman of the Election Management Committee, while addressing the candidates at an election awareness seminar at the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Capital on Monday evening.
The NEC had issued the guidelines for the candidates and voters earlier on Monday. A candidate may receive donations from citizens or local entities only, while funding from overseas and foreign establishments for the campaign is prohibited. The NEC also urged candidates that their campaign spending should not exceed Dh2 million, Lootah said.
Candidates are allowed to campaign from September 4 to September 21 and no new banners will be allowed after this allotted period.
The seminar highlighted the rights and duties of the candidates, and the regulations governing the elections as well as the general rules for campaigning in terms of funding, restrictions and procedures. Lootah pointed out that the rules stipulated by the executive instructions for the elections state that a candidate is free to express him/her self and carry out any activity aimed to convince voters to elect him/her.
Public servants and federal government employees will be granted leave to contest the elections. Candidates are also allowed to establish an election office after obtaining approval from their emirate’s election committee and choose an agent to attend the polling and counting on behalf of him/her.
No derogatory or sectarian remarks
Every candidate is obliged to maintain the values and principles of the society, adhere to rules and regulations, respect public order and ensure that his/her campaign does not include ideas that provoke religious, sectarian, tribal or racial divisions, Lootah emphasised.
The candidates are banned from engaging in any behavior, conduct or activity that harms or tarnishes the reputation of another candidate, whether directly or indirectly. The publicity material of a candidate should also not contain words or statements that slander or harm another candidate.
Presenting election programmes in the local audio, visual and print media and holding seminars and press conferences within the guidelines stated in the executive instructions and NEC regulations are also allowed, he said.
An emirate-level committee will determine and regulate the campaign venues of candidates. No candidate should use schools, universities and colleges, houses of worship, hospitals or government institutions to further his/her interests or to gather support in his/her favour during the campaign, Lootah said. Those who are unable to read or write and the people of special needs will be assisted to cast their votes by an official of the NEC along with representatives of the polling centre concerned, while there will be separate arrangements for women to cast their votes, said Lootah.
Penalties for flouting norms
If any candidate is found committing any kind of violation during his/her campaigning, the case will be sent to the civil or criminal courts depending on the kind of violations.
Whereas the NEC will sign papers with the offender to accept any of the three punishments which include withdrawing the approved licensing for electoral assistance works, pay fines not exceeding Dh5,000 or cancelling of his/her candidacy, Lootah said.
Norms for candidates
· Remarks on other candidates are strictly prohibited
· Must not use educational institutions, hospitals and religious spaces
· No sectarian, tribal or racial remarks on others
· Cheating of voters through any means will not be tolerated
· No SMSes to voters from companies
· No expensive gifts and cash to voters; only cap, pen or medals allowed
· Government officials banned from using their entity’s assistance for campaigning
· No distribution of pamphlets or other handbills on polling day
· Showcasing election agenda through electronic and print media is allowed
· Using Facebook and Twitter is allowed on the condition that electoral programmes and other election details are not posted
Norms for voters
· One vote once for each voter
· Emirates ID card is must to vote
· Special needs voters to be assisted by NEC officials at each centre
· The voter found violating rules of the NEC and creating hurdles in the peaceful process of election will be sent to civil or criminal courts and his name deleted from the voters’ list of the emirate
· No support for any candidate inside the polling centre.
· Must cooperate with polling centre representatives
