Jordanian local elections, 2017
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100 mayors 355 local councils 12 governorate councils |
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| Turnout | 31.7% | |
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On 15 August 2017, Jordan held local elections for three levels of government: mayoralties, municipal and local councils, and governorate councils.
While the municipal and local councils have been elected consistently since 1925, the governorate council elections are the first of their kind in Jordan, with the councils established by a new 2014 decentralization law. The Law aims to reduce service-related pressure on the Parliament, so it can focus on its legislative and government oversight role.
6,623 Jordanians competed for 1,838 seats in the municipal and local councils, 303 in the governorate councils, and 100 posts for mayor. There are designated quotas for women in all posts.
Municipal and local council elections have been held consistently since 1925. These elections were the first to witness governorate councils which were added by a 2014 Decentralization Law. The Law intends to reduce the pressure of service and development related issues on the Parliament, so it can perform its legislative and oversight over government effectively. The law also intends to cede some central-government power to elected councils, increasing citizen participation in municipal decision-making. The Municipalities Law was also reformed around the same period. In a 15 August 2016 interview, King Abdullah II described the new decentralization law as "a very important link in the chain of reforms".
The Kingdom is divided into 100 municipalities: 82 municipalities with 355 local councils, and 18 municipalities with none (due to their small size). There are 1,838 members of the municipal and local councils. Mayors will be directly elected for each municipality. The municipalities, excluding the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, will be run by a municipal council that includes at least 7 members. The members of the municipal councils include the mayor and heads of the local councils (highest voted for members). Each local council consists of 5 members, including at least one woman. The Decentralization Law divided the Kingdom into 158 constituencies, which will witness the election of 12 governorate councils with 381 members. 85% of governorate councils members will be elected, and 15% appointed by the government. The elected 303 members of governorate councils, have a 10% quota for women (32 seats). A third of the appointed 45 members are required to be women (15 seats).
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