Moroccan Interior Minister has issued a circular to governors, prefects, and other local authorities, reaffirming the rights of representatives from electoral lists. The circular, dated recently, emphasizes the importance of transparency in the electoral process. According to the minister, the Organic Law 27.11, related to the House of Representatives, guarantees the right of representatives from electoral lists to obtain a copy of the minutes from voting stations, central offices, and statistical committees.
The Organic Law 27.11 allows representatives of electoral lists to continuously monitor voting operations, counting, and tallying of votes conducted by voting stations. They are also entitled to request that observations be included in the minutes of voting stations. Furthermore, they have the right to attend the work of central offices and statistical committees. The law ensures that representatives of electoral lists receive a copy of the minutes, which holds the same weight as the original documents.
The Interior Minister's circular stresses that the law requires the preparation of copies of electoral operation minutes, matching the original documents, using available means. The number of copies should equal the number of present representatives of electoral lists. These copies must be delivered immediately against a receipt, after being numbered and signed by the heads and members of these offices or committees.
To guarantee the right of representatives of electoral lists to obtain copies of electoral operation minutes, the Organic Law 27.11 penalizes the refusal to deliver these copies. The law stipulates a penalty of imprisonment from six months to one year and a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 dirhams for any voting station head who refuses to provide a copy of the electoral operation minutes to a representative of an electoral list present in the voting hall.
In addition to the rights of representatives of electoral lists, the law also allows candidates to review the minutes of voting stations, central offices, and statistical committees. This can be done at the local administrative authority's headquarters or at the prefecture, province, or district level. Candidates can exercise this right during official working hours, within eight days from the date of the documents' deposit.
Candidates who have had their election contested can also review the electoral operation minutes and obtain a copy. This right can be exercised at the local administrative authority's headquarters or at the prefecture, province, or district level, during official working hours, within eight days from the date they receive the petition.
The Interior Minister's circular aims to ensure transparency and integrity in the electoral process, scheduled for September 23, 2026. By reaffirming the rights of representatives from electoral lists, the minister seeks to promote trust and credibility in the electoral process.
Key points
- The Organic Law 27.11 guarantees the right of representatives from electoral lists to obtain a copy of the minutes from voting stations, central offices, and statistical committees.
- The law penalizes the refusal to deliver copies of electoral operation minutes to representatives of electoral lists.
- Candidates can review the minutes of voting stations, central offices, and statistical committees within eight days from the date of the documents' deposit.
