Vote goes on smoothly; 'minor incidents' reported - officials

King checks on situation during visit to Interior Ministry

AMMAN (JT) – Jordanians headed to the polls on Tuesday to elect their 16th Parliament.

His Majesty King Abdullah checked on progress in the vote during a visit to the central operations room at the Interior Ministry, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Overall voter turnout rose to 32.2 percent by 1.20pm Tuesday, according to the government. In Amman it stood at 18 percent. The highest voter turnout was in the Northern Bedouins District with 61 percent. In Mafraq, it was 50 percent, in Karak it stood at 49.5, in Zarqa 20.9, in Irbid 37, in Aqaba 31.5 percent.

Interior Minister Nayef Qadi said all preparations were in place to facilitate the voting process, emphasizing that the government is keen to enforce the law to ensure that citizens practice their right without any hindrances.

According to officials, “minor incidents that did not affect the process” took place, including the detention of 20 persons who were blocking the way of candidates in the governorate of Madaba and Mafraq, and the detention of a voter who attempted to vote twice in the governorate of Zarqa.

Meanwhile, Jordanian National Commission for Women Secretary General Asma Khader urged Jordanian women to head to the polls to choose representatives who are capable of representing them and their cause.

Khader expressed hope that female candidates would be able to win seats without resorting to the quota system which reserved 12 seats for women deputies, one for each of the Kingdom’s 12 governorates.

She added that the current quota system does not give a fair chance to women from major cities whom she described as more politicized than their counterparts in the Kingdom.

Political Development Ministry Secretary General Malek Twal said the government is keen to ensure a transparent process and has given permits to local and foreign observers to access polling centers all over the Kingdom.

He said by Tuesday, the number of foreign observers reached 356, while local observers totaled 3,500.

9 November 2010

Source: The Jordan Times.
Link: http://jordantimes.com/?news=31703.