KUWAIT, Sept 27 (KUNA) -- There is no doubt that the candidates for the National Assembly elections 2022 have the right to use all traditional, modern or advanced media and new technological methods in their election campaigns, as long as they are within legal frameworks to ensure the integrity of electoral campaigns aimed at attracting voters' attention and promoting themselves.
However, an observer in the current elections for the National Assembly, which will begin on Thursday, noticed that media and propaganda campaigns are being created with various innovative and new technological approaches that have changed the form of Kuwaiti parliamentary election campaigns and the way of communicating and interacting with voters and public opinion.
On that matter, Professor of Political Sociology at the College of Social Sciences at Kuwait University Dr. Marzouqa Al-Quwaidhi told KUNA that technological methods of the campaigns and addressing people's minds with clear words, frank disclosure of thoughts and issues, reflects the electoral outcomes positively.
Al-Quwaidhi pointed out that the modern technology-based media plays a huge role in managing the electoral process with the best results at the lowest costs. Given the wide area of the geographical constituency amidst the five-circle system, the candidate relied on smart advertising means by managing them in a correct manner according to a well-studied plan to influence to his electoral bases.
She noted that enthusiastic videos and rhymes are being used in promotions to motivate voters and stimulate enthusiasm in order to vote for candidates as a form of publicity and advertisement. This type of propaganda carries a brief, clear, and easy message that touches the aspirations and the conscience of voters, raises their interests, and shows the purpose and objective of the nomination.
Meanwhile, Professor of Media at the College of Arts at Kuwait University, Dr. Khaled Al-Quhs, said that these technological means, whether through videos or tweets, made it easier to portray the candidates' ideas and agendas to the public instead of having electoral seminars.
Al-Quhs mentioned new ways that serve candidates, such as paid podcast interviews, videos and pictures, to be circulated through different social media platforms. He also said that there is an innovative method to display candidates' biography, history and plans through a barcode to be scanned and easily broadcasted.
On his part, Professor of Media at the College of Arts at Kuwait University, Dr. Ahmad Al-Sharif told KUNA that modern technological media is a significant driver in influencing public opinions, as social media has become the most dominant method in electoral campaigns and is taking the lead thanks to society's tendency to use it for being the fastest, easiest and less expensive.
He added that the use of social media outlets have exceeded television, in terms of the number of views, and had a big effect in voter's opinions. (end) mf.tb.bb