Manama, Bahrain: Bahrainis stood patiently in a long queue waiting for the polling stations to open to cast their ballot and choose their candidates for the 40-member Council of Representatives, one of the two chambers of the bicameral parliament.
At exactly 8 am as per the schedule, the officials opened the door and the queue started to build at Seef Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the capital.
Inside, the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful with the officials making sure that everything was in order and that the voters followed the rules.
The Seef Mall is one of the 55 voting centers set up for the parliamentary and municipal elections in 2022.Â
Bahrainis living abroad or visiting foreign countries had an advance polling on Tuesday in the 37 voting centers set up in diplomatic missions across the world.
Whatever the outcome, the new Council of Representatives will have a new look and a new Speaker since Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal who held the leading position in the last four years will not be running this time.
Bahrain has now held parliamentary and municipal elections since 2002.Â
Bahrainis elected their representatives in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.Â