Where to Vote: General Referendum Committee Lists Polling Locations
On Tuesday, November 5, Qatar will hold a public referendum in which citizens will vote on a package of constitutional amendments, including one that would abandon an attempt to introduce elections.
In 2021, Qatar had its first elections for two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council, an elected body. The polls triggered exceptional friction between clan members of Qatar s oldest Bedouin tribe who found themselves unqualified to take part.
The emir, describing the elections as “an experiment”, said the government had studied them and recommended changes to the constitution.
The General Committee for Referendum said in a statement that the polling stations for the referendum will be throughout the country electronically and on paper.
NON-ELECTRONIC POLLING STATIONS
There will be 10 polling stations where non-electronic, paper ballots will be used. They are at:
* Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, at Al Sadd Sports Club
* Multi-purpose Hall at Al Duhail Sports Club
* Aspire Sports Hall, at Aspire Academy
* Multi-purpose Hall, at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan)
* Multi-purpose Hall at Barzan Youth Center
* Multi-purpose Hall, at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium (Al Ahli Club)
* VIP Entrance, at Al Janoub Stadium.
* Multi-purpose Hall, at Al Khor Sports Club
* Multi-purpose Hall, at Al Shamal Sports Club
* Multi-purpose Hall, at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium (Al Gharafa Club)
ELECTRONIC VOTING STATIONS
A total of 18 electronic polling stations have been established across various locations, including key malls nationwide. The locations are as follows:
* Departures – Gate No. 2, at Hamad International Airport
* Abu Samra Border Center, at Abu Samra Crossing
* Villaggio Mall, at Villaggio Mall
* Doha Festival City, at Doha Festival City
* Landmark Mall
* The Gate Mall
* Vendome Mall
* West Walk Mall
* Lagoona Mall
* Al Hazm Mall
* Cultural Village Katara (Galeries Lafayette)
* The Mall
* Ezdan Al Wakra Mall, at Ezdan Al Wakra
* Mall of Qatar
* Barahat Msheireb, at Msheireb
* Qatar University – Male Campus
* Qatar University – Female Campus
* Multaqa Building, at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development.
The 2003 constitutional referendum approved Qatar’s first legislative election, but it only took place in 2021. Members of the Al Murrah tribe, one of the Gulf’s largest Bedouin groups that traces its roots back to eastern Saudi Arabia, also protested against the electoral law that strains Qataris whose families were settled in Qatar only after 1930 out of the vote.
Qatar wanted to prevent the “tensions” between families and tribes that the electoral process had caused, Sheikh Tamim said.
The Shura Council has limited legislative power, ratifying general state policies and the budget but it has no role in determining defence, security, economic and investment policies for Qatar.