Voting Begins in Morocco's Legislative Elections
On the morning of September 23, 2026, Morocco officially commenced the voting process for its legislative elections, which aim to elect members of the House of Representatives, the first chamber of the Moroccan Parliament. A total of 7,288 candidates are vying for 395 available seats in this significant electoral event. According to a report from a Xinhua News Agency correspondent in Rabat, the total number of registered voters stands at 15,801,162, with men constituting 54% and women 46% of the electorate. Notably, 55% of these voters reside in urban areas, while 45% are from rural locales.
The election campaign, which began on September 10 and concluded at midnight last night, saw 28 competing political parties focusing on critical issues such as citizens' purchasing power, employment, social protection, and anti-corruption measures. The competition is particularly intense among the current ruling coalition parties, which include the National Rally of Independents, the Authenticity and Modernity Party, and the Istiqlal Party, all striving to secure a leading position in the election results.
According to the Moroccan constitution, King Mohammed VI appoints a representative from the party that secures the most votes to form the government. To achieve this, a party must obtain an absolute majority in the House of Representatives, which requires at least 198 seats out of the 395 total. In addition to the 305 deputies elected through local electoral districts across various cities and regions, 90 seats are allocated to regional districts, specifically designated for women candidates, with some women opting to run in local districts instead.
A central committee from the Moroccan Ministry of Interior, along with regional and local committees, oversees the election process, ensuring adherence to procedures and preventing any violations that could compromise the integrity of the elections. This electoral event is held under a comprehensive national and international observation network, featuring over 3,000 monitors, complemented by legal frameworks that grant candidates' representatives the right to observe the voting and counting processes and obtain official copies of the results.
According to Article 47 of the Moroccan Constitution, the King appoints the Prime Minister from the political party that wins the House of Representatives elections, based on the results obtained, while government members are appointed based on proposals from the Prime Minister. Observers assert that these elections mark a pivotal moment for redistributing party representation within the legislative body, serving as a test of the parties' ability to translate their governmental achievements or political opposition into electoral success. Furthermore, it offers voters a chance to assess the performance of political actors during the previous term.
Observers also note that the primary challenge of this election lies in the ability of political actors and overseeing institutions to transform this electoral competition into a constructive political process that enhances popular participation and improves the quality of parliamentary representation.
As reported by arabic.news.cn.
