KUWAIT, Dec 1 (KUNA) -- Over 400,000 Kuwaiti voters headed to the polls early Saturday in the country's five constituencies to choose 50 National Assembly (parliament) members in the one-day elections, the second in 10 months.
The polls opened at 0800 local time (0500 GMT) and are due to close at 2000 (1700 GMT).
Voters, this time around, are eligilbe to vote for one candidate according to amendments to the electoral law by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in October. In previous elections, voters were able to cast ballot for four candidates. The 10 candidates in each constituency with the most votes become MPs.
Some 307 candidates, including 14 women, are vying for the house's 50 seats in Saturday's elections.
According to the official figures, the number of eligible voters in the upcoming elections total 422,569, of whom 196,754 or 46.56 percent are males, while female voters account for 225,815 or 53.43 percent.
Women take part in these elections for the fourth time since they were granted their political rights in 2005.
The Higher Electoral Commission estimated the number of polling stations across the nation at 666, distributed over 100 main polling centers.
According to the Commission, there are 112 polling stations in the first constituency, 78 in the second constituency, 118 in the third, 171 in the fourth and 187 in the fifth.
The 50-seat house is elected every four years. Cabinet ministers (including the prime minister) are granted automatic membership in the Assembly, bringing the number of members in the assembly to 66. Ministers have the same rights as the elected MPs, with the following two exceptions: They do not participate in the work of committees, and they cannot vote when a grilling leads to a no-confidence vote against one of the Cabinet members.
The first constituency comprises 19 residential areas, while the second constituency consists of 13 residential areas and has the lowest number of voters among the five constituencies.
The third constituency, which groups residential areas, has the fourth largest voter base out of the country's constituencies.
The Fourth Constituency consists of 18 large residential areas. It has the second largest number of voters.
The fifth constituency has the largest number of voters and groups 20 residential areas. (end) aj KUNA 010821 Dec 12NNNN