The Central Elections Commission (CEC) issued instructions and regulations regarding electoral campaigning expenditure in preparation for the Local Elections scheduled for upcoming April, in a way that guarantees the organization of the electoral process in a legal and transparent manner.
Electoral campaigning period, commencing on April 10, 2026 and concluding on April 23, 2026, is subject to the provisions of the Decree-Law on Local Elections, and shall include all activities and actions exercised by candidates or electoral lists to promote their electoral platforms/programs in order to attract voters to vote for them.
As per the CEC’s instructions, the expenditure ceilings for electoral campaigning was linked to the classification of local authorities and number of its eligible voters listed in the voters’ registry.
In village councils, the ceiling per candidate is determined by allocating two Jordanian Dinars (2 JOD) per voter or a maximum of five thousand Jordanian Dinars (5,000 JOD), whichever is higher. However, in municipal councils ceilings vary according to the number of voters: up to 10,000 voters, the ceiling per electoral list is determined by allocating two Jordanian Dinars (2 JOD) per voter or a maximum of ten thousand Jordanian Dinars (10,000 JOD). Meanwhile, in municipalities with 20,000 voters or less, the ceiling will be thirty five thousand Jordanian Dinars (35,000 JOD); between 20,000 and 45,000 voters, the ceiling will be seventy five thousand Jordanian Dinars (75,000 JOD); and between 45,000 and 70,000 voters, the ceiling will be one hundred and twenty thousand Jordanian Dinars (120,000 JOD). Finally, if the number of voters at a municipality exceeds 70,000 voters, the ceiling of expenditure per electoral list will be one hundred and sixty thousand Jordanian Dinars (160,000 JOD). Ceilings are measured in Jordanian Dinars or its equivalent in other currencies.
Expenditures cover all electoral activities, including campaigns, advertisements, digital services, festivals and public meetings.
The CEC emphasized the necessity for each candidate and electoral list, after the elections, to submit a detailed financial report, clarifying sources of income and expenditures relevant to electoral campaigning, while adhering to the legal boundaries of each local authority. In addition, the CEC commits to follow up on and review these reports, compare them against legal evidence, and resort to notarized financial affidavit or a financial audit whenever necessary to ensure transparency of expenditure.
The CEC emphasized that any violation of the provisions of the Decree-Law on Local Elections, including exceeding the expenditure ceilings or violating campaigning provisions, is punishable with imprisonment for at least six months or one year at most, a fine mounting up to one thousand Jordanian Dinars (1,000 JOD), or with both penalties combined. The aim is to guarantee everyone’s adherence to the law as well as ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
It is worth mentioning that the amended Decree-Law on Local Elections, provided the CEC with the power to determine the expenditure ceilings for electoral campaigning, unlike the old law, which left expenditures open without limitations.