By Baraka Al-Jassar ABU DHABI, Sept 23 (KUNA) -- Some 129,000 eligible voters in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to cast their ballots Saturday in the second-ever polls to elect half the members of the Federal National Council (FNC).
They will elect 20 representatives out of 468 candidates, including some 85 women, across the Gulf state.
The size of the electoral college has significantly been enlarged after it included only 6,595 voters in 2006, involving the seven emirates of the UAE, notably Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al-Qeewain.
The 2011 polls are a significant stage in the development of political life in the oil-rich Gulf country.
The leadership of the country has urged voters to take part in the elections to achieve wider participation.
The FNC has no legislative powers and acts merely as an advisory board to the Federal Supreme Council, the country's highest governing body, made up of the rulers of the federation's seven emirates.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are assigned eight seats each in the FNC, compared to six each for Ras Al-Khaimah and Sharjah, and four each for the smaller emirates of Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al-Qeewain. (end) bmj.aas.mt KUNA 232020 Sep 11NNNN