Jordanian polls close with 56% turnout, counting begins

EU election observers have celebrated the 'smooth' voting process Amman – Osama Al Rantissi As polls closed in the Jordanian parliamentary elections, the nationwide turnout had reached 56.438% percent. Counting will now begin, as Islamist elements continue to call foul on the legitimacy of this landmark vote.The Independent Electoral Commission’s [IEC] commissioning board had had the authority to extend voting hours, IEC spokesman Hussein Bani Hani added.
However sources told Arabstoday the electoral organisation would not extend voting hours, as ballot boxes in polling stations across the kingdom were closed in preparation for counting.
David Martin, chief observer at the European Union Election Observing Mission [EU EOM] to Jordan had previously stated his 80-person mission had started touring polling stations from 0630 hrs, adding that turnout had been low throughout the morning’s voting.
Martin lauded the IEC for ensuring elections went “smoothly” and in accordance with international standards. No major irregularities had taken place, he added.
The EU observer pointed out some "technical glitches" and other minor infractions, such as problems with electronic linking in some polling stations as well as some candidates illegally publicising their campaigns outside polling stations.
Jordanian Islamists have meanwhile released a statement which casts doubt on turnout figures, claiming “very low” participation levels at the country’s polls. The statement listed observations sent from Islamist “monitoring centres,” which alleged low turnout figures, falsification of official statistics, “mass infractions” in most polling centres and forged ballot forms.
Sources in the Independent Election Commission confirmed that they will not extend the deadline of the ballot again, as ballot boxes were closed in all centers of the Kingdom and the process of counting votes has begun.