Morocco’s Ministry of Interior has opted to maintain the current electoral system for the 2026 legislative elections, resisting calls from several political parties to revise the voting framework, redraw constituencies, and introduce stricter integrity standards for candidates.
According to sources familiar with the draft laws, the new bills under preparation bring no major changes to the mode of voting, the number of electoral districts, or the allocation of seats in parliament.
Proposals submitted by multiple political formations, particularly those advocating for an increase in constituencies in line with new population data from the latest census, were not retained.
The upcoming elections will therefore follow the same voting system and distribution model used during the 2021 polls.
On the question of candidate eligibility, the ministry did not incorporate proposals to bar individuals accused or prosecuted for corruption or public fund mismanagement.
Despite strong pressure from civil society and some parties, officials have declined to codify such restrictions, instead placing the responsibility for candidate selection on political parties themselves.
Parties are now expected to enforce internal vetting and ethical mechanisms to ensure that nominees are of “irreproachable integrity.”
Sources from the Interior Ministry justified the decision by invoking the principle of presumption of innocence, emphasizing that no citizen can be legally prevented from standing for election unless a final conviction has been issued by the courts.
The ministry had received throughout the summer memoranda from political parties outlining their visions for electoral reform.
These included calls for redistricting, the introduction of gender balance incentives, and measures to enhance transparency in campaign financing.
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