Jordan ramps up preparations for parliamentary elections

KATHMANDU: Jordan is preparing for parliamentary elections on Sept 10. This upcoming election will be the first since the new electoral law was implemented in 2022, which aims to improve representation.

The new law increases the number of parliamentary seats from 130 to 138 and includes provisions to promote the inclusion of women and youth candidates.

According to the law, each political party’s candidate list must include at least one woman for every three candidates and at least one person under 35 in the top five positions.

Additionally, to encourage greater youth participation in governance, the minimum age for parliamentary candidates has been lowered from 30 to 25.

The upcoming election is viewed as a significant step in Jordan’s political transition, with citizens expressing hopes for meaningful reforms.

Jordan’s elected lower house, the House of Representatives, will work alongside the Senate, which is composed of 65 members appointed by the King through royal decree.

In April, King Abdullah II emphasized the importance of this electoral process and the need to ensure electoral integrity and prevent violations.

According to the Independent Election Commission, out of 38 licensed political parties, 36 will participate in the election.

The number of registered voters has exceeded 5.1 million, with approximately 2.7 million women and 2.4 million men.

A recent survey conducted by a research firm based in Amman estimates a voter turnout of around 35.0%, compared to 29.9% in the previous parliamentary election held in Nov 2020.