Info

Jordan

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	b. No, existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Comments:	Constituency: Every part of the Kingdom for which a seat or more in the Deputies has been designated in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 2. Updated on Feb 23, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	c. Compactness of constituencies e. Geographic size of district g. Other
Comments:
Source:	UJRC - DRI Report on Assessment of the Electoral Frame Work in Jordan. p18 Mr. Hussein Abu Rumman, Research and expert in Elections and Political Parties in Jordan. Updated Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	b. Legislature (2nd chamber)
Comments:	Prime Ministry The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan shall be divided into a number of constituencies, and deputy seats allocated for each thereof shall be determined under a regulation issued for this purpose.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 52. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	g. Inherited monarchy
Comments:	The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an independent sovereign Arab State. It is indivisible and inalienable and no part of it may be ceded. The people of Jordan form a part of the Arab Nation, and its system of government is parliamentary with a hereditary monarchy.
Source:	Constitution of Jordan, Chapter 1, Article 1. Updated on Feb. 13, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	e. Appointed
Comments:	Appointed by the king.
Source:	Constitution, Chapter 4, Article 35. Updated on Feb. 13, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	The King is the Head of the State and is immune from any liability and responsibility.
Source:	Constitution, Chapter 1, Article 30. Updated on Feb. 13, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	b. Two chambers
Comments:	The bicameral parliament (Majlis Al-Umma) consists of a House of Notables (The Senate) and a House of Representatives (the Chamber of Deputies).
Source:	Constitution, Chapter 3, Article 25. Updated on Feb. 17, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	f. Single Non-Transferable Vote
Comments:	The Chamber of Deputies shall consist of members elected by secret ballot in a general direct election and in accordance with the provisions of an Electoral Law.
Source:	Constitution, Chapter 5, Article 67. Updated on Feb. 17, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	b. Separate legislation
Comments:	Elections to the House of Representatives are governed by the Law of Election to the House of Deputies, No. 34 of 2001.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies no. 34 of 2001 Updated on Feb. 19, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections
Comments:	This law shall be called the (Law of Election to the House of Deputies for the Year 2001), and shall become effective as of the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies no. 34 of 2001, Article 1. Elections to the House of Representatives are governed by the Law of Election to the House of Deputies, No. 22 of 1986. www.Pogar.org Updated on Feb. 19, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:	Voting is not mandatory, and the right was extended to all Jordanian citizens over the age of 18
Source:	http://www.pogar.org Updated on Feb. 17, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	a. Judiciary
Comments:
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 5. Updated on Feb. 19, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution: Ministry of Interior
Website Address: http://www.moi.gov.jo/

Source

Verified

2009/11/04

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level
Comments:	A Higher Commission presided over by the Minister shall be formed to supervise the elections and to decide on all the matters presented by the central committees.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 23. Updated Feb. 19, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	Ministry of Interior. Elections are overseen by the Ministry of Interior, which appoints representatives to organize and monitor election proceedings at the local level.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 23. Pogar.org Updated Feb. 19, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	Ministry of Interior.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 23. Pogar.org Updated Feb. 19, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	a. For the election period only
Comments:	A Higher Commission presided over by the Minister shall be formed to supervise the elections and to decide on all the matters presented by the central committees.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 23.
Verified:	2008/02/26

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body
Comments:	Ministry of Interior
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies Updated on Feb. 23, 2008
Verified:	2008/03/12

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:	Updated on Feb. 23, 2008
Verified:	2008/03/12

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	h. Yes, conducted by NGOs/ Civic Organizations i. Yes, conducted by Political Parties/ Candidates j. Yes, conducted by the Media
Comments:	UJRC, and many NGO's performed civic education and electoral observation campaigns during the year 2007, for the parliamentary elections.
Source:	Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center Updated on Feb. 26, 2008.
Verified:	2008/03/12

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
Comments:	A. Every Jordanian, who has completed 18 solar years of age on the first day of the first month of the year of elections shall have the right to elect members of the House of Deputies if his/her name is registered in one of the Final Electoral Lists.
Source:	ُLaw of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 3 Updated on Feb. 23, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship e. Other
Comments:	A. Every Jordanian, who has completed 18 solar years of age on the first day of the first month of the year of elections shall have the right to elect members of the House of Deputies if his/her name is registered in one of the Final Electoral Lists.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 3. Updated on Feb. 23, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	e. Other
Comments:	Civil Status and Passports Department A- 1- The Department shall prepare the Electoral Lists which shall include the names of residents of each Constituency who have the right to elect and who had obtained a personal card through the computer under the national ID number.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, article 5 (a) Updated on Feb. 23, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	A. Every Jordanian, who has completed 18 solar years of age on the first day of the first month of the year of elections shall have the right to elect members of the House of Deputies if his/her name is registered in one of the Final Electoral Lists.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 3 (a). Updated on Feb. 23, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	b. At any polling station in the same voting district
Comments:	The elector has the right to cast his/ her ballot in any of the polling and canvassing stations in his/her constituency.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 34. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	a. Outside the country voting is not permitted
Comments:	A- 1- The Department shall prepare the Electoral Lists which shall include the names of residents of each Constituency who have the right to elect and who had obtained
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 5. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	g. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Updated on Feb. 25, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:	The elector shall write the name of the candidate he wants to elect. No more than one name may be written.
Source:	Elections' Law of the Deputies, Article 35. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008
Verified:	2008/02/26

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments:	Anyone wishing to nominate him/herself for membership in the House of Deputies shall pay the Treasury Director in the Constituency in which he wishes to nominate him/herself the amount of (JD 500) five hundred Jordanian dinars which shall be entered as income for the Treasury and shall not be returnable.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 12. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008
Verified:	2008/03/17

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship f. Registration j. Other
Comments:	A candidate for membership to the House of Deputies shall meet the following conditions: - That he has been a Jordanian national for at least ten years. - That he does not claim foreign nationality or protection. - That he is registered in one of the final Electoral Lists. - That he has completed thirty solar years of age on the day the candidature period ends. - That he has not been declared bankrupt and has not been rehabilitated. - That he has not been interdicted and such interdiction had not been removed. - That he has not been sentenced to a prison term exceeding one year for a non-political crime and has not been pardoned. - That he does not have any material interest in any of the Government departments by virtue of a contract other than contracts of land and property tenancy. This does not apply to anyone who is a shareholder in a company owned by more than ten persons. - That he is not retarded or insane. - That he is not a relative to the King to a degree specified by a special legislation. - That he does not belong to any non-Jordanian political body, party or organization.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 8. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008
Verified:	2008/03/17

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments:	A candidate for membership to the House of Deputies shall meet the following conditions: - That he has been a Jordanian national for at least ten years. - That he does not claim foreign nationality or protection. - That he is registered in one of the final Electoral Lists. - That he has completed thirty solar years of age on the day the candidature period ends. - That he has not been declared bankrupt and has not been rehabilitated. 5 - That he has not been interdicted and such interdiction had not been removed. - That he has not been sentenced to a prison term exceeding one year for a non-political crime and has not been pardoned. - That he does not have any material interest in any of the Government departments by virtue of a contract other than contracts of land and property tenancy. This does not apply to anyone who is a shareholder in a company owned by more than ten persons. - That he is not retarded or insane. - That he is not a relative to the King to a degree specified by a special legislation. - That he does not belong to any non-Jordanian political body, party or organization.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 8. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2008/03/17

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct
Comments:	An item in the state national budget is to be allocated to the funding of political parties. This funding is based on specified terms and conditions that determine the cases of providing or withdrawing funds, and mechanisms of expenditure according to a special regulation.
Source:	Political Parties Law for the year no. 19 of 2007, Article 19. Updated Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2008/03/17

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	f. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Political Parties Law for the year no. 19 of 2007, Article 19. Updated Feb. 26, 2008.
Verified:	2008/03/17

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	In its financial resources, the Party shall fully depend on Jordanian, local known, declared and specified sources.
Source:	Political Parties Law for the year 2007, Article 19. Updated Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2008/03/17

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	b. The polling centre
Comments:	The ballot box shall be opened by the Balloting and Canvassing Committee in front of the attendees. The Committee shall canvass the ballot papers contained therein and the number of votes obtained by each candidate and shall record the same on visible a board in front of the attendees. The Committee shall prepare a minute of two copies as per the form approved by the Minister for the constituency, including the number of votes obtained by each candidate. Such minute shall be signed by the Committee Chairman and members and sent to the Constituency Committee.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 39. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request
Comments:	The ballot box polling shall be considered cancelled if it turns out after counting ballot papers contained therein that they are 5% more or less than the number of electors in such ballot box. The Balloting and Canvassing Committee shall decide upon objections filed by candidates during the process of votes canvassing and shall issue the decision it deems appropriate. This decision shall be final.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 41 and Article 42. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	a. Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Comments:	According to the provisions of this Law, Election publicity shall be free and every Candidate may resort thereto from the date of accepting his/her candidature.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 17. UJRC - DRI Report on Assessment of the Electoral Frame Work in Jordan. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

ME059

Existence of televised debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	c. No
Comments:	Speeches, publications, advertisements, and other election publicity shall not include, directly or indirectly, any insinuation or stander of any candidate, or agitate sectarian, tribal or regional bias or any discrimination among the various groups of citizen.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 18. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	b. 2-3 days
Comments:	The Minister shall announce the general results of the election within no later than two days as from the receipt of relevant records. These general results shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Source:	Law of Election to the House of Deputies, Article 46. Updated on Feb. 25, 2008.
Verified:	2008/02/26

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

DD003

DD004

DD005

DD006

DD007

DD129

DD130

DD131