KUWAIT CITY: Kuwaitis were casting ballots Thursday in a snap vote to elect the fourth parliament in less than six years, with pollsters predicting a solid victory for the Islamist-led opposition.
The vote in the wealthy Gulf state, which follows an especially tense campaign and some outbursts of violence, seeks to end political disputes that have hurt the country for years.
Women voters, dressed in clothes ranging from black traditional abayas to casual Western-style jeans, lined up in short queues at female-only voting stations as lines of men formed at separate polling booths.
Female voters make up 54 percent of the electorate and 23 women are among 286 candidates running for the 50-seat legislative body.
Voter traffic at the polling centers was low in the morning but picked up rapidly later, especially in tribal constituencies where men stood in long queues.
In the suburb of Keifan, an Islamist stronghold on the outskirts of Kuwait City, voters turned out in large numbers as representatives of candidates made a last-minute pitch to convince voters.
Turnout was described as "good" in the morning, but based on previous elections, Kuwaiti voters normally prefer the evening session.
Pollsters and analysts expect the 400,000 electorate to deliver a resounding victory for the Islamist-led opposition which has campaigned vigorously for fundamental reforms and against corruption.
"We are very optimistic that the opposition will achieve a majority in the next parliament," former Islamist MP Waleed Al-Tabtabai told AFP as he headed to vote.
"I am hopeful that disputes will diminish because the opposition will strengthen its presence," he said.
The snap poll is taking place after Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dissolved parliament in OPEC’s third largest producer following unprecedented protests led by youths inspired by the Arab Spring.
The protests led to the resignation of the previous government and former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah who was replaced by another senior royal, in a move unusual in the oil-rich emirate.
Some voters expressed concern that the election, which comes after one of the most aggressive campaigns since Kuwait introduced democracy in 1962, would not help return stability.
"The atmosphere is unhealthy and highly charged … because sectarian and tribal tensions are negatively impacting our country. Kuwait is a small country and does not bear struggles," former oil minister Adel Al-Sabeeh said.
"The opposition is likely to boost its strength but I think we are headed for more disputes," Sabeeh told AFP after voting.
Ordinary voters expressed similar worries.
"We are very frustrated and worried about what is happening in Kuwait," said one woman, Umm Saud, after casting her vote at Jabriya, 15 kilometers (nine miles) south of Kuwait City.
"I am not optimistic this election will resolve our problems, but I pray that I am wrong," she told AFP.
Fatima Akbar, a former school teacher clad in an abaya and a headscarf, echoed a similar sentiment, saying she is "hopeful with caution" that the election will help stabilise the country.
"We are worried about the conflicts in Kuwait, especially sectarian tension," between the Sunni majority and Shia minority, said the voter.
Tensions between Sunnis and Shias — who make up 30 percent of Kuwaitis — have intensified in past months, mainly over regional issues such as Bahrain, Iran and Syria.
Shia candidates lamented last year’s crackdown on their co-religionist protesters in Bahrain, while Sunni candidates warned of Shia Iran’s ambitions in the region.
On Monday, tribesmen burned the election tent of a pro-government candidate for remarks deemed derogatory to a Bedouin tribe. They also stormed offices of a local TV station for hosting a pro-government candidate.
About 30 international and 300 local observers have been allowed by the government to monitor the election for the first time.
Kuwait has a population of 3.6 million as of mid-2011, but 68 percent of those are foreigners with Kuwaitis numbering 1.17 million.
Polling closes at 1700 GMT with the first results expected early on Friday as ballot papers are counted manually.
Kuwait says it sits on 10 percent of global crude reserves and pumps around 3.0 million barrels of oil a day. Thanks to high prices, the emirate has amassed more than $300 billion (227,400 billion euros) in assets over the past decade.
