KUWAIT CITY: Kuwaiti Shias are looking to boost their strength in parliament when the country goes to the ballot box on Saturday.

Under a new election system, the number of electoral districts has been cut from 25 to five, increasing the number of voters in each constituency five-fold and changing the geographic distribution of voters.

A Shia candidate Abdulwahed Khalfan expected Shia candidates to benefit from the new system.

In the past, two legislators were elected for each electoral district, and Shias were a majority in only two constituencies.

Now each constituency will elect 10 deputies. Shias constitute half the voters in one constituency and sizeable numbers in the remaining constituencies.