In August 2015, the Jordanian government introduced a landmark draft election law.
Reversing a quarter century of reliance on a single non-transferable voting system, the draft
law proposes the introduction of an electoral system that reflects the one used during the
1989 Election in which voters were able to cast as many votes as there were seats in their
respective constituency. This change would likely give parties an electoral advantage, as prior
to the introduction of single non-transferable voting, the electorate frequently used only their
first vote to support familial and tribal connections and then cast subsequent votes based
upon ideological preferences. The new law would also encourage much-needed dialogue
about ideology, as parties and candidates will have to come together on these issues when
they form lists. With Jordan on the precipice of passing this law that could move parties out of
the political periphery and into policy-making roles, it is crucial that Jordanians not only
become better acquainted with political parties, but also the parties’ commitment to the
realization of a socially just society.