Technical issues prevent participation of expats in elections — minister

AMMAN — The participation of all Jordanian expatriates in parliamentary elections is a “difficult” process that is “next to impossible” due to a number of administrative and technical issues, a minister said Saturday.

“There are around 1 million Jordanians living in 138 countries but there are only 84 Jordanian embassies around the world,” Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Khaled Kalaldeh said.

“As such, not all Jordanians abroad can participate in parliamentary elections,” the minister told The Jordan Times.

He also explained that not all candidates would have the financial ability to travel to Jordanians abroad and request their support depending on their programmes, citing Article 6 of the Constitution. 

Paragraph A of said article reads: “Jordanians shall be equal before the law. There shall be no discrimination between them as regards to their rights and duties on grounds of race, language or religion.”

However, the minister explained that Article 38 of the draft elections law that the government has referred to the Lower House allows for implementing an electronic voting system according to certain regulations decided by the Cabinet.

“If MPs’ endorse the government’s version, then Jordanians living abroad may be able to vote electronically according to certain regulations to be issued later.”

Kalaldeh explained that Jordanians living aboard can also come to the country to vote on elections day without prior registration, unlike the case in previous laws.

“Under the 2015 elections law, no prior registration or special voting cards are required,” he said.