Delay in vote counting blamed on 'new electoral system'

Fuente: 
The Jordan Times
Fecha de publicación: 
24 Ene 2013

The Independent Elections Commission (IEC) on Thursday acknowledged a delay in vote counting after all polling stations across the country were closed late Wednesday.

Several local districts witnessed a delay in the announcement of their preliminary results last night, due to what the IEC described as the "new system for the polls".

During a press conference to announce a large portion of the election results, IEC President Abdul Illah Khatib said the delay was due to the new measures involved in this year's polls, including national list seats and the fact that voters had two votes.

"We were very busy in counting the votes of the national lists, which was unexpectedly hard and took a longer time than planned," he added.

However, the delay in announcing the results of the polls caused some disruption and violence in some governorates such as Maan, and Karak.

Groups of young men rioted in Maan Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, setting fire to public and private property after being dissatisfied with the results of the parliamentary elections, according to eyewitnesses

But Khatib called on all citizens to avoid such behaviours and accept the results of "free elections".

Meanwhile, IEC spokesperson Hussein Bani Hani announced the preliminary results of the polls in 37 districts out of 45, pending review by a special committee that the Commission formed to give final results of the elections.

Later this evening, the special committee is expected to submit its final report over the official results of the polls to the IEC, Khatib said.

Khaled Neimat

http://jordantimes.com/delay-in-vote-counting-blamed-on-new-electoral-sy...