Qatar will hold a public referendum on Tuesday, November 5, where citizens will vote on a set of constitutional amendments, including a proposal to abandon an effort to introduce elections.

Qatar held its first elections in 2021 to choose two-thirds of the members of the advisory Shura Council. The elections set off rare tensions among Qatar’s oldest Bedouin tribe, who were ineligible to vote.

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Sheikh Tamim, who said the elections were ‘an experiment,’ said the government reviewed them, which led them to propose constitutional amendments.

The General Referendum Committee announced the locations for the referendum polling stations, which will be held both 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 set up in different locations, including major malls around the country. Their locations are:

* 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.

 Qatar’s first legislative election was approved in a 2003 constitutional referendum, but did not take place until 2021. Members of the Al Murrah tribe, one of the Gulf’s largest Bedouin groups with roots tracing back to eastern Saudi Arabia, protested the electoral law that bars Qataris whose families were not present in Qatar before 1930 from voting.

Sheikh Tamim said Qatar sought to avoid tensions between families and tribes that the electoral process had sparked.

The Shura Council has legislative authority and approves general state policies and the budget but has no say in setting defence, security, economic, and investment policies for Qatar.

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