MAKKAH: The vice chairman of the local municipal elections committee in Makkah has said that certain restrictions on election campaigns have been eased for this year's polls. Amin Abdul Qadir said that while previously candidates running for election were only permitted to erect four billboards advertising their campaigns in their constituencies, this time the number is unlimited. “This time candidates are also allowed to open their own election offices and use loudspeakers inside those offices,” Abdul Qadir said. “They are also allowed to make use of bridges and overpasses but are first required to obtain permission from the local election committee chairman.” He said that the turnout to register as candidates to the municipal council in Makkah was high on Saturday. “The tenth circuit in Makkah saw 53 persons register to run,” he said. “Every candidate is allowed to open a central office in the constituency he's running for to promote his electoral program.” Abdul Qadir said, however, that candidates were not permitted to use mobile telephone text messages and various other means in their campaigns. “Voters and candidates can present complaints to the various electoral committees concerning any violations and if proven justified offending candidates will be removed from the list of runners immediately,” Abdul Qadir said.
