Jordan Times
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
King checks on polling
procedures
By Mohammad Ghazal with Petra dispatches
AMMAN - His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday visited the main election
operations room at the Ministry of Interior and checked on the procedures taken
by the ministry to facilitate the polling process.
The Monarch, accompanied by Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and Director of the
King’s Office Bassem Awadallah, was briefed by Minister of Interior Eid Fayez on
the overall procedures of the parliamentary electoral process.
During his tour of the ministry’s election departments, the King reiterated the
importance of encouraging citizens to participate in the polls to choose their
representatives.
Briefing King Abdullah on the electronic linkage of the polling centres and the
initial results, Fayez said the ministry took all necessary procedures to ensure
that the parliamentary election is held in a transparent manner.
It also worked to facilitate the voting process, he added.
Following the King’s visit, Fayez told reporters that the ministry had drawn up
a comprehensive security plan to ensure a smooth electoral process and prevent
any clashes or acts of violence.
He added that the ministry had assigned more than 90,000 employees to oversee
the ballot casting and vote-counting process.
In addition, 40,000 Public Security Department personnel were stationed at
polling centres.
Meanwhile, the premier cast his ballot at the Sukainah Secondary School for
Girls in Jabal Hussein yesterday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
During his visit, Bakhit referred to the new procedures adopted in the voting
process whereby election officials cut off a part of a voter’s ID, saying the
objective is to prevent multiple voting.
Also yesterday, Bakhit visited the Ahmad Touqan School in Al Nuzhah to check on
the voting process and called on committees at polling centres across the
Kingdom to regulate the entry of voters to facilitate and accelerate the
process, according to Petra.
The premier also listened to voters’ comments at the centre, the news agency
added.
In an interview with Jordan Television yesterday, Bakhit urged citizens to
exercise their constitutional rights.
“Today is a historic day because it will lead to the formation of a balanced
Lower House with competent members capable of representing Jordanians and
dealing with challenges.”
Also yesterday, Bakhit visited the election media centre at the Royal Cultural
Centre, and was briefed on the facilities the government provided for media
outlets, Petra reported.