Al-Shuboul: We Seek to Activate the Role of Youth in all Phases of the Electoral Process
Publication day: April 17th, 2019
Faisal AL-Shuboul, a member of the Board of Commissioners of IEC, emphasized the importance of activating the role of the youth in the electoral process in all its phases through the formation of volunteering teams working to support the Commission in the management of awareness and educational campaigns and to participate in the process of providing guidance for voters on the polling day.
This came during a dialogue session, held by the Commission in Ajloun governorate in cooperation with All Jordan Youth Commission, aims at educating and motivating the youth to participate in the electoral process which will be positively reflected on the political reform process. He added that the Commission since its formation has followed the approach of openness to partners and different electoral departments to exchange expertise and learn about international experiences in the electoral management domain, the matter that enabled the Commission to conduct fair elections according to the international standards. He said that these meetings conducted by the Commission in partnership with All Jordan Youth Commission come within the framework of the permanent readiness for all types of elections; parliamentary, municipal, governorate councils and any elections mandated by the Council of Ministers in accordance with the law of the Commission.
He added: IEC is not a legislative body therefore; we are an executive body, we apply the electoral laws in force, nevertheless; we provide consultancy to the legislative bodies when required.
In regard to the youth presence in the parliamentary councils, Al-Shuboul said that the results of previous elections showed a law turnout for the youth candidacy; only 5% of the candidates were not more than thirty-five years old, but it is different when speaking about the young voters who scored a good percentage compared with previous elections due to the Commission’s procedures which allowed those who reached the age of eighteen to elect, not only those who completed 18 years, as was the case before.
Al-Shuboul pointed out that the Commission is working now on building a voluntary work base of young people to help the Commission in any upcoming elections. During the meeting an extended discussion took place in which Al-Shuboul has answered the attendees’ inquiries and questions.
