MANAMA, May 9: Bahrainis trickled to polling stations on Thursday to vote for the first time in 32 years in municipal elections that are seen as furthering fledgling democratic reforms in this Gulf Arab state.

Witnesses said turnout was relatively low in the early hours of the first day of an official two-day weekend.

The revival of the polls, which women will contest for the first time, is part of the kingdom’s efforts to end decades of simmering sectarian tension and allow ordinary Bahrainis, and particularly Shias, a bigger political say.

Bahrain last elected municipal councils in the 1960s. Analysts describe this poll as a dress-rehearsal for October’s crucial parliamentary elections — the kingdom’s first since its late ruler, Sheikh Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa, disbanded the first assembly in 1975, just two years after it was elected.

“We’re all learning in this process,” elections executive director Sheikh Ahmed bin Ateyatallah al-Khalifa said. “Municipal elections are very important since most people don’t really care about politics, they care about roads, services and healthcare.”

More than 1,500 officials are monitoring the computerized voting process, which even opposition candidates say leaves little room for manipulation.

Sheikh Ahmed, however, said the poll’s final results could only be announced after the second round of elections on May 16. —Reuters