Arab League election observers commended the lowering of the voting age in Jordan, but urged the kingdom to facilitate voting by expatriates, the Jordan Times reported Thursday (September 22nd).
The Arab League sent observers to the Lower House polls, and the league’s mission visited 342 electoral committees in 133 polling stations across the kingdom.
The mission also was present as 12 polling stations opened, and monitored the vote count at 12 centres, the Jordanian news agency, Petra, reported.
Delegation head Khalil Thawadi said the group’s final report on the elections would be sent to Arab League secretary general Ahmad Aboul Gheit.
The report will include notes and recommendations, and Aboul Gheit will send a copy to the Jordanian authorities, Thawadi said.
In preliminary remarks, Arab League observers noted that most polling stations opened on time, with all committee members present. They also commended the high number of women on electoral committees.
Additionally, the 2016 Elections Law lowered the voting age, a "positive step" indicating the kingdom’s commitment to encouraging youths to exercise their political rights, the mission said.
However, Jordanians working outside the kingdom had no means to cast their ballots, and the mission expressed hope that arrangements would be made in future elections to allow expatriates to participate.
