RAS AL KHAIMAH // Organisers of the FNC election explained last night how members are selected for subcommittees that help to run the vote.
Last night's forum gave people eligible to vote in Ras al Khaimah the chance to question members of the National Election Committee (NEC).
Many asked about the composition of RAK's electoral commission.
The NEC said in March that subcommittees in each emirate would "work closely with the NEC in running the technical and administrative affairs of the FNC elections".
Rashid Al Shoraibi, a voter, asked if the members were randomly picked.
"The rulers of each emirate choose the committee in their emirate," said the assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of State for FNC Affairs, Dr Saeed Al Ghafli.
"This is based on certain standards. A number of women have to be included, a geographical regional selection to represent the full emirate and the tribal reflection of the emirate."
Dr Al Ghafli sought to explain why some people were registered as subcommittee members after their deaths.
"The reason is because the selection of election committee members in each emirate comes from the ID Authority to reflect the standards set by the ruler of each emirate," he said.
"Due to our culture, when a person dies the authority is not usually told and, therefore, the names turn up and then the NEC is informed."
Fewer than 100 people attended last night's lecture. More than 16,000 people are registered as FNC voters in RAK.
Dr Al Ghafli shrugged off the poor attendance.
"This is not a standard," he said. "The real number will show on September 24, on election day."