Over 450,000 Jordanians have cast ballots in local election race by noon

AMMAN — Over 450,000 Jordanians have cast their ballots to elect 1,135 governorate and municipal council representatives by noon, according to the Independent Election Commission (IEC).

“Some 456,718 cast their ballots by 12:00 noon,” the IEC posted on its Facebook page.

The total number of eligible voters stands at 4,602,135 people, including 2,437,340 women.

The final official number of individuals registered to run for the elections is 4,644, including 846 women.

Deputy Prime Minister and Local Administration Minister Tawfiq Krishansaid during a joint press conference with Chairman of the IEC Khaled Al Kalaldehthat “the percentage of individuals casting their ballots is higher in the governorates than the capital”.

“We call on the voter to vote honestly and elect the candidates with experience and competence in the field of development and expansion of municipal services,” Kreshan said in the press conference.

He also said that it is also essential to vote for the candidates who have “the ability to manage development files in the governorate and municipal councils”.

Meanwhile, Kalaldeh said that the IEC is closely monitoring the election process and following up on all the comments and complaints that are lodged by the citizens and the press”.

Earlier in the day, Kreshan told reporters at a polling station where he cast his ballot that “Every Jordanian should vote for Jordan’s future because it calls for optimism”.

“Voting is a national duty because it works to strengthen the Jordanian democratic process through the ballot boxes,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Kreshan as saying.

Voting, the minister stressed, reinforces the reform process that His Majesty King Abdullah is leading,” according to Petra. 

IEC officials said earlier this week that some 5,000 individuals, including 100 international persons, will be monitoring the elections.

The Public Security Directorate (PSD) has dispatched over 55,000 personnel to monitor 1,850 polling stations, which contains 6,937 ballot boxes.

The IEC announced recently that 13.3 million ballot papers were printed with security marks for the upcoming elections with three colours: One for the city council presidency seat, one for the city council membership seat and one for the governorate seat.

The Cabinet had decided to hold governorate and municipal council elections last November. 

The Cabinet also approved the Amman Municipal Council Election Law and electoral appeals for 2021.

Citizens wishing to cast their ballots should send a message to 94455 to get information on their polling stations.

On March 20, His Majesty King Abdullah visited the IEC to check on preparations for the municipal and governorate council elections.