IEC updates voters’ list in preparations of parliamentary elections

AMMAN — The Independent Election Commission (IEC) on Sunday announced an updated voters’ list in preparation for the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

The IEC announced through its website that the updated list includes the voters’ place of residence in accordance with the Electoral District Division regulations and the current Elections Law, in coordination with the Civil Status and Passports Department (CSPD).

The IEC urged voters who want to inquire about their electoral district to call the toll-free number (117100) or visit the Commission’s website.

If the voter decides to update or amend any data “he/she should submit an application to the CSPD, “which has prepared simplified procedures for changing the place of residence in accordance with the provisions of the law and the regulations specified for this purpose”.

IEC officials have said in the past that the expected number of voters in the upcoming parliamentary will reach 5 million voters.

Officials have also said that the IEC will work to facilitate polling stations with equipment that would suit people with physical disabilities to facilitate their participation in the electoral process.

In 2022, the Senate and the Lower House passed the 2022 amendments to the Political Parties Law, which require political parties to increase the percentage of women and youth to at least 20 per cent within three years after their foundation.

There should be no less than 1,000 founding members of political parties, and at least 10 per cent should be women and young people between 18 and 35 years old, according to the new law. 

The law also allows university students who join political parties to engage in partisan activities on campus without any infringement on their rights, as a bylaw will be issued to regulate such activities. 

It also stipulates that a founding conference shall be held by the party within a year after meeting the requirements, where no less than a third of the party’s 1,000 founders shall attend, and must represent at least six governorates.   

The Political Parties Law, along with the Elections Law, has been revisited by the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System as part of its mandate to achieve the envisioned political reform.