4,727 candidates to compete for 1,135 seats in local elections race — IEC

AMMAN — The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said 66 people announced their withdrawal from the governorate and municipal elections race, officials said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the IEC rejected 26 candidates’ applications who did not meet the required qualifications, IEC Spokesperson Mohammad Rawashdeh said.

The total number of registered candidates stands at 4,727, Rawashdeh told The Jordan Times.

The candidates will be competing for 1,135 seats in total. 

“The number of candidates might be reduced further because the period whereby they can withdraw their candidacy is March 7,” according to the IEC official.

Meanwhile, the IEC official said the commission is currently investigating over 230 violations related to money and election campaign violations.

“The committee entrusted with investigating these applications will not take any decision until all aspects are examined carefully,” Rawashdeh stressed.

The governorate and municipal elections are scheduled for March 22.

Some 4,602,135 people, including 2,437,340 women, are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections.

There will be 1,845 polling stations that will, for the time being, contain 6,907 ballot boxes. The number could decrease or increase based on any future needs.

The candidates and seats are distributed as follows according to Rawashdeh: 572 candidates competing for 100 city council presidency seats; 3,089 candidates competing for city council membership seats; 1,048 candidates will be competing for 289 governorate membership seats, while 111 registered to compete for 28 seats at the Greater Amman Municipality.

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

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