SIGI coalition reports violations in several polling stations

AMMAN — A team of monitors from Sisterhood Is Global Institute’s (SIGI) “Eye on Women in the Elections” coalition on Tuesday observed violations at several polling stations, SIGI said. 

The coalition, which is monitoring the elections from a gender perspective, observed voting in seven electoral districts in Zarqa, Amman, Irbid, Karak, Balqa, Ajloun and Southern Badia, SIGI said in a statement. 

Several candidates and their representatives were campaigning in polling stations, in violation of electoral rules, the institute said. 

Meanwhile, electoral committees failed to intervene when some voters openly announced the names of the candidates they voted for, another practice that is banned under electoral regulations.  

The coalition’s observers also said that some women voted using their health insurance cards at a voting centre in Amman. 

In another incident, a woman voted using her family book, a document issued by Civil Status and Passport Department containing information of family members registered in the civil registry. 

Electoral regulations state that voters must show their civil ID cards. 

A 15-year-old in Balqa used her 20-year-old sister’s ID card to vote on her behalf at a polling station in Balqa, SIGI said. 

Heads of electoral committees accompanied illiterate women to help them cast their votes in Maan, Zarqa, Balqa and Southern Badia, the coalition said. 

Ballot papers feature photographs of candidates, to allow illiterate voters to place their ballots without assistance. 

Group voting continued in Zarqa, Southern Badia, Amman’s 2nd District and Maan and in some cases two people entered the voting booths simultaneously. 

Meanwhile, the identity of voters wearing the face-covering niqab was not checked in Ajloun, while policewomen and volunteers were present in other polling stations to verify the identities of women wearing niqab. 

Also in Ajloun, a woman accompanied her disabled daughter to the voting booth, while another voter with disabilities was unable to vote in the district as the polling station was not accessible. 

No health services were available at any polling stations, and no umbrellas were provided to offer shelter from the sun, according to SIGI. 

The institute commended the cooperation of electoral committees that allowed female voters to bring their children into polling stations, making it easier for mothers to participate in the poll.