Dramatic Disparities in Electoral Participation Across Moroccan Regions
The recent legislative elections held on September 23, 2026, have highlighted significant disparities in voter participation among various regions of Morocco, revealing a complex electoral landscape characterized by varying levels of engagement. According to official data released by the Ministry of Interior, the southern regions exhibited remarkably high participation rates, contrasting sharply with notable declines in other areas, which illustrates a diverse electoral map shaped by distinct voter behaviors.
Leading the participation chart was the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, boasting an impressive voter turnout of 77.49%. This was followed by the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, which recorded a participation rate of 60.98%, and the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, achieving 54.2%. These figures underscore the historical trend of strong electoral participation in southern regions, which consistently surpass national averages.
In contrast, other regions reported lower turnout rates, with Drâa-Tafilalet at 44.86%, and Béni Mellal-Khénifra slightly behind at 40.2%. Marrakech-Safi saw a participation rate of 39.37%, closely followed by Fès-Meknès at 39.35%. On the lower end of the spectrum, regions such as Souss-Massa and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra registered participation rates of 37.61% and 36.53%, respectively. The Casablanca-Settat region reported a turnout of 34.68%, while Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima was slightly lower at 34.5%.
Notably, the Oriental region lagged significantly, with a dismal participation rate of just 31.37%, marking it as the least engaged region in this electoral cycle. These figures gain further significance when compared to the 2021 elections, which indicated a noticeable decline in participation across several regions. For instance, Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima had a turnout of 50.86% in 2021, while the Oriental region recorded 46.78%. This downward trend raises concerns about civic engagement and the factors influencing voter turnout in the Moroccan electoral system.
As reported by kechpresse.com.
