2013
Jordan Parliamentary Elections
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on the part of IRI observers of a vote-buying scheme. While not all of these incidents had malicious
intent, taken together with reports of vote buying, it does raise question about the integrity of voting
procedures.
In addition, IRI observers noted many instances of large crowds gathered at the entrances to schools
where voting was being conducted and of campaigning near and even inside most polling centers
visited on Election Day. Among the crowds, in violation of the election law,
candidate supporters
were handing out campaign material with impunity, checking voters’ names off lists, and in some
more egregious cases working out of campaign tents set up right outside of polling centers. Though
IRI observer teams witnessed no visible vote buying, many citizens interviewed by the teams
believed that campaigning outside polling centers was being used to identify voters who had been
paid a bribe and to remind them of their obligation to vote for a certain candidate. IRI observers
heard numerous complaints from voters that they felt intimidated by candidate supporters loitering
outside polling stations. In isolated instances, candidate agents inside polling stations were seen
wearing photos of their candidates and making gestures to voters as they entered the polling station,
leading to rumors that they were engaged in illicitly influencing voters. IRI observers noted that
besides only being able to observe on Election Day, candidate and list agents were rarely educated
on the election law. As well, IRI observers noted that campaign material was seen inside polling
stations. More focused on maintaining order, police were ineffective in curtailing such campaigning,
and they were not called upon by polling stations officials to do so.
Many candidates also hired buses and taxis to transport supporters to polling stations. Though not a
violation, it was often stated to IRI observers that vote buying occurs on these buses. One
suspicious case was witnessed outside a polling center in Zarqa, where a bus pulled up with
approximately 50 voters. After voters began to file out, supporters of another candidate accused
them all of having just received a payment while they were in the bus. These accusations, however,
could not be independently verified by IRI observers.
Closing and Counting Process
Closing procedures were mostly followed at the polling stations observed. The counting process
was transparent, although the national list tabulation was often drawn out and time consuming
because of the number of lists and lack of space inside polling stations to sort 61 piles of list votes.
In some cases, the number of ballots cast according to the electronic system did not match the total
number of ballots physically counted, but in the incidents where this occurred the discrepancies
were below two percent and therefore permissible by law. After counting, IRI observers in virtually
all cases witnessed that the proper forms were signed by polling staff and candidate agents, ballots
were sealed properly in the respective envelopes and a copy of the final voting results was posted on
the door of the polling station in accordance with law. Observers, candidates and their agents were
able to access all proceedings in the polling stations without obstruction.
While candidate agents
were seen at most polling stations visited by IRI observers, most did not seem to have a good
understanding of the law and many often left as soon as the results were tallied, not waiting for
closing procedures to finish. This indicates that more thorough training of candidate agents is
necessary as is increasing understanding among candidates of the important role agents play inside
polling stations.
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The election law stipulates that campaigning must end the evening before Election Day.
