Muscat: The Municipal Council election for the third time period held on Sunday noticed a quantum soar in using trendy know-how, in response to the members of the Main Committee.

Addressing a press convention on Monday, the members detailed the first-of-its-kind use of smartphone utility ‘Intakhib’ and the due means of elections that witnessed 126 candidates being elected.  

Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior and Chairman of the Main Committee, reaffirmed that the ministry was eager to maintain tempo with the automation course of, integration of information, and employment of digital applied sciences as a part of the federal government’s digital transformation programme according to Oman Vision 2040.

He mentioned that this time the elections had been totally different because it was a totally on-line/digital course of, beginning with registration within the election register, sorting of votes and the announcement of election outcomes.

The Ministry of Interior used its previous experiences to make a qualitative shift in using digital strategies to facilitate submission of purposes of candidates.
Al Busaidi mentioned: “The Ministry of Interior launched Intakhib Elect app in November, which helped with the sorting process, declaration of initial and final lists of candidates and other
services.”
“This application was useful in casting of votes both within and outside the Sultanate,” he added.

Al Busaidi mentioned: “A total of 39.42 percent of voters participated in the election process which is within the normal limits and that the Ministry is working on to evaluate this aspect.”

Intakhib Elect app was designed by Omani crew from the Ministry of Interior, he mentioned pointing to that using the applying has contributed to discount of the monetary price of the elections course of.

“We have not noticed or received any objections so far on the results of the elections, he said, adding that objections can be submitted online through the website of the Ministry of Interior within the legally prescribed period.

He also added that the details related to the elections process were released on time through the application.
Mohammed bin Said Al Balushi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information and Chairman of Information Committee for Elections of the Members of the Municipal Councils for the Third Term, said that the voting process through smartphones  has contributed to speedy casting of votes, the interaction of the society and the announcement of the results of elections.

Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shizani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Technical Committee for the Elections of Members of Municipal Councils for the Third Term said that “we have not seen any technical challenges in voting through smart phones and the only issue related to the use of the application by the voters.”

The press convention was held at InterContinental  on Monday and it was attended by a variety of media individuals and journalists from the native and worldwide media and press.