The North Africa Journal: Morocco to Test New Electoral Law this Year

Morocco to Test New Electoral Law this Year
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The North Africa Journal on 05 January, 2009 07:38:00
 
The new law requires that citizens should provide two documents to receive a
voter’s card. The national ID card is required for all citizens to be included
in the voters’ list, while proof of residency in the local community will be
required only for residents, but not for expatriates and the nomadic population.
For those who do not have a national ID card, the family booklet (livret de
famille) can be a replacement.
These requirements are excepted to bring clarity to the electoral lists, which
have been the subject of controversy in the past. Voters’ lists have had lot
of errors, from duplications to the inclusion of deceased individuals. Political
parties will be given access to the lists, if they wish so.
This year could also be an important one for women politicians. Efforts are
underway to increase the participation of women in local politics, including the
establishment of a special fund to help female candidates. In 2003, only 0.6% of
the 22,000 elected officials were women.