Morocco is heading into Wednesday’s elections under a different format from the 2021 election, as voters this time are electing members of the House of Representatives only, whereas the legislative, communal and regional elections were held on the same day during the September 8, 2021 vote.
In 2021, the Ministry of the Interior confirmed that voters were voting simultaneously to elect the House of Representatives, communal and district councils, and regional councils. The official 2026 election calendar, however, designates September 23 exclusively for the election of the 395 members of the House of Representatives.
More Candidates
Data from Morocco’s Ministry of the Interior, published by the Maghreb Arab Press Agency, show an increase in the number of local candidacies compared with the previous elections.
In 2026, approximately 1,615 local lists comprising 5,505 candidates were submitted, compared with 1,472 lists and 5,046 candidates in the 2021 elections. This year, the average competition exceeds 18 candidates for each local seat.
Candidates are competing for 305 seats in local constituencies, while 90 seats are allocated to regional constituencies. Voting is conducted through proportional representation under the largest remainder rule, without vote mixing or preferential voting.
Among the organizational changes in the 2026 elections is the adoption of a procedure for submitting candidacy declarations through a dedicated electronic platform, alongside the submission of the original application files to the competent authorities.
The Moroccan news agency reported, citing the Ministry of the Interior, that this new procedure was presented to party leaders during preparatory meetings for the elections held last July.
3,006 Observers
The elections are also accompanied by an extensive monitoring network. The National Human Rights Council announced the accreditation of 3,006 observers to monitor the various stages of the electoral process.
The figure includes 783 observers affiliated with the Council and 2,023 representing Moroccan associations, in addition to the participation of institutions and organizations as well as international and regional representatives.
The Council said that monitoring would cover the various stages of the electoral process independently and impartially.
Morocco’s legislative race… Parties reveal their cards
Meanwhile, in July, the Ministry of the Interior and the Presidency of the Public Prosecution activated the Central Election Monitoring Committee, along with provincial committees comprising governors, prefects and representatives of the Public Prosecution, to monitor the integrity of the electoral process.
Thus, the 2026 vote differs from the 2021 elections in three direct respects: legislative elections held separately, an increase in the number of candidacies, and expanded digital and monitoring procedures surrounding the electoral process.
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