Kuwait: Zero Hour for Elections · Global Voices
Abdullatif AlOmar

Kuwait is all set for its National Assembly elections on Saturday (May 17). A total of 246 male candidates and 27 female candidates are running for 50 seats in the hotly contested elections, which should be held every four years. Elections are however held earlier if the Emir (Ruler) exercises his constitutional power to dissolve parliament and that is what happened on May 21, 2006, when the Emir dissolved the National Assembly through constitutional means and Kuwait held national elections on June 29, 2006. On March 19, the Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, dissolved parliament again after constant clashes between the government and the elected MPs, and called for new elections on May 17. With the election date so close, it is no wonder that Kuwaiti blogs are full of election material.
Amer over at Hilaliya  gives his reason why he is so into the elections this year:
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not ‘social’ individual, not social in the Kuwaiti ‘political animal’ sense of visiting diwaniyas, campaign headquarters, and ‘getting out the vote’
“What's gotten into you?” relatives and close friends ask.
But the answer is simple really…The country is in a severe state of gridlock, buffered by corruption, waste and inefficiency. Now we have no control over who the government appoints to run the country but we do have the power to make the right choice on May 17.
Forzaq8 over at 5-Q8 writes his final thoughts on the elections:
Election should be taken seriously , it is not a game
Tomorrow your Vote decide your future and your sons future
for example don't ask why didn't they build a new hospital when the member you voted for didn't approve the funding for it , and more example could be said
Still on the topic of the elections, Aggz The Aggressor writes a brief history of democracy in Kuwait:
Many may argue against this post, though I hope it ‘at least’ makes sense to most readers.
We’ve come to realize that democracy in Kuwait is something of a unique experience, especially to those of us that never saw Kuwait in it’s infancy
Away from the elections, Dr Mahbob brings us news of an agreement between the government and Knet (Knet is a national company providing electronic banking services to all the banks in Kuwait) and what he thinks of it.
I think this is big step toward e-payment and I hope hackers don’t show up when the smell chance of stealing money online.
Q8Ba7th writes about his experience going to P2BK2008:
P2BK is a new youth initiative to organize annual forum for small and startup businesses. A healthy and definitely needed concept I say for startups and small business who can’t afford to take place in big expos like Info Connect and others.
And finally Ducatiq8 explains his feelings when he abides by the new law of not using his cell phone while driving: