2017 Jordanian local elections

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 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. Municipal and local councils are responsible for administering municipal services, while the governorate councils are tasked with monitoring and suggesting development projects, and formulating the municipality's budget. Jordanians are required to be 25 years or older to be eligible for the elections. ==Elections==

The Independent Election Commission trained some 19,000 volunteers for an awareness campaign on the municipal and decentralization laws. 6,950 Jordanians have registered their candidacies for the elections by 6 July: 611 men and 6 women mayoral candidates, 3,772 men and 1,094 women for municipal and local councils membership, 1,195 men and 119 women for governorate council membership, and 140 men and 13 women for GAM's council. After the end of the withdrawal period on 1 August, 327 candidates either withdrew or their candidacies were rejected by courts after appeals. The final candidates list includes 6,623 Jordanians: 538 mayoral candidates, 4,701 for municipal and local councils membership, 1,239 for governorate council membership, and 145 for GAM's council. With the final candidates list issued, elections in 21 local councils were cancelled after its candidates won by acclamation. 68 women also won by acclamation. GAM residents will vote on a green paper for governorate council seats where one or two candidates (depending on what is allocated for each district) can be selected; and on a white paper for the membership of the municipal council (GAM council) where only one candidate can be selected. The elections went as planned with the exception of the central Badia, where a candidate's supporters attacked two ballot boxes. ==See also==