Moroccans are heading to polling stations on Wednesday, September 23, to elect members of the country’s 395-seat House of Representatives in a parliamentary election taking place amid public concern over employment, living costs, healthcare, education and the quality of public services.
The election is the latest legislative vote since constitutional reforms introduced in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Spring. The official electoral programme provides for direct universal suffrage through a list-based system, with voters choosing representatives for the lower house of Parliament.
According to official figures, 15,801,162 people are registered to vote in the 2026 legislative election. The electorate comprises 54 per cent men and 46 per cent women, while 55 per cent of registered voters live in urban areas and 45 per cent in rural communities. Young people aged 18 to 24 account for only four per cent of those registered.
The election features thousands of candidates competing for the 395 seats. Official figures show 7,288 candidacies registered nationwide, with 305 seats being elected through local constituencies and 90 through regional constituencies reserved for women. More than 2,600 women are among the registered candidates.
The vote comes as political parties seek to respond to economic and social concerns that have become increasingly important to Moroccan voters. Employment, particularly among young people, remains a major issue, alongside access to housing, healthcare and education.
Recent reporting has highlighted persistent youth unemployment and frustration among some younger Moroccans over their economic prospects and confidence in political institutions. An Afrobarometer survey cited by Reuters found that only about one-third of Moroccans aged 18 to 35 expressed trust in Parliament, the prime minister or political parties.
The election is also taking place as Morocco prepares for major infrastructure and development projects linked to its co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Political parties have placed different emphasis on employment creation, investment and public services during the campaign.
Morocco’s political system gives Parliament and the government important responsibilities, while King Mohammed VI retains significant constitutional powers over major strategic areas of state policy. The party that emerges first in the House of Representatives will have an important role in the formation of the next government. Under Article 47 of the Moroccan Constitution, the King appoints the Head of Government from the political party that comes first in the parliamentary election.
Voting began at 8 a.m. and is scheduled to close at 7 p.m. across the country. More than 3,000 national observers and nearly 200 international and regional observers are participating in monitoring the election process, according to current election information.
The authorities are expected to begin counting ballots after polling stations close, with provisional results expected from Thursday, September 24. The final composition of the House will determine the political balance in Parliament and set the stage for negotiations over the formation of the next government.
The election is therefore being closely watched not only for the distribution of parliamentary seats but also for voter participation and the ability of the incoming government to address concerns over employment, public services and economic opportunity.
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