Parliamentary elections were held in the United Arab Emirates on 24 September 2011 to elect the half of the members of Federal National Council.[1] The elections were held using electoral colleges, which were expanded from around 6,000 members in the 2006 elections to 129,274.[2] However, only 35,877 voters voted, with a voter turnout of 28%.[2]
. . . 2011 Emirati parliamentary election . . .
The 2011 parliamentary elections had an expanded electoral college constituting 129,274 members, made up of 46% females and 54% males, of which 35% were younger than 30 years.[3]
Nominations of candidates took place between 14 and 17 August.[4] On 20 August 2011, the National Elections Commission announced the preliminary list of candidates, stating that 469 members of the electoral college nominated themselves to be candidates to run for the parliamentary elections. Of those 469 nominees, 85 were women.[5]
After last-minute applications were taken into account, the final list included 477 candidates.[6]
The campaign period lasted from 4 to 21 September 2011.[4] Some observers called for a delay in the voting process to allow for more time for candidates to campaign.[7]
Candidates were prohibited from using religion in their campaign,[6] and were limited to spend 2 million dirhams.[8]
. . . 2011 Emirati parliamentary election . . .