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Voting Starts in Algeria’s Parliamentary Elections

Published June 12th, 2021 - 09:10 GMT
A woman signs a voter registry after casting her ballot at a polling station in Bouchaoui, on the western outskirts of Algeria's capital Algiers, on June 12, 2021 during the 2021 parliamentary elections. Polls opened in Algeria for a parliamentary election overshadowed by a crackdown on a long-running protest movement that has campaigned for a mass boycott. Pro-government parties have urged a big turnout for the "crucial vote" which they hope will restore stability after two years of turmoil since the force
A woman signs a voter registry after casting her ballot at a polling station in Bouchaoui, on the western outskirts of Algeria's capital Algiers, on June 12, 2021 during the 2021 parliamentary elections. Polls opened in Algeria for a parliamentary election overshadowed by a crackdown on a long-running protest movement that has campaigned for a mass boycott. Pro-government parties have urged a big turnout for the "crucial vote" which they hope will restore stability after two years of turmoil since the forced resignation of veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. RYAD KRAMDI / AFP
Highlights
More than 24 million voters are eligible to cast ballot in Saturday’s polls.

Voting started Saturday in Algeria’s first parliamentary elections since the departure of long-serving President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019 amid tight safety measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Polling stations opened nationwide at 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) and will close at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

More than 24 million voters are eligible to cast ballot in Saturday’s polls.

A total of 22,000 candidates are vying in the race, including 1,080 from 28 political parties and 1208 independents, to win seats in the 407-member parliament.

The vote will witness, for the first time, the adoption of an open list system for selecting candidates under a new election law adopted by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The open list system allows voters to arrange the candidates within the same list according to his/her preference. On the contrary, the closed list forced voters to choose the list based on the arrangement set by the party.

During a visit to the National Independent Authority of the Elections on Thursday, Tebboune promised that the vote results will be determined by the citizens.

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In March, Tebboune issued a decree calling for an early parliamentary elections on June 12, less than a month after dissolving the People's National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.

This article has been adapted from its original source.

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