Three million People Are Voting for the First time in the 2021 Elections

The number of first-time voters in Morocco reached 3.002 million people in 2021, constituting almost 11.9 percent of the population of voting age.

According to a note published by the High Commission for Planning (HCP) on the characteristics of first-time voters, this group concerns young people between the ages of 18 and 22 who reached voting age.

Of these voters, 1.473 million are women (49.1%) and 1.792 million are urban residents (59.7%).

Casablanca-Settat region includes the biggest number of new voters, at more than 19.1 percent, while the Marrakesh-Safi region comes in second place with more than 13.6 percent, followed by Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (13.1 percent) and Fez-Meknes (12.2 percent).

According to the document, nearly 9 out of 10 first-time voters, or 88.9 percent, are single, 98.6 percent of which are men and 79 percent women. The percentage of married people is about 10.8 percent, 20.3 percent of which are women and 1.4 percent men.

In terms of education, HCP said that over half of first-time voters graduated high school, while 24.5% have a higher education level and 16.2% have an elementary level. 3.5% of first-time voters are uneducated, HCP added.

The employment rate for first-time voters, according to HCP, amounts to 18.9 percent. This rate is higher in rural areas at 31.7 percent, compared to 11.2 percent in urban areas.

Morocco is set to hold local, regional and legislative elections on September 8 that will determine the government’s makeup for the next five years.

Electoral campaigns were launched on August 26, and lasted for 13 days, with the participation of 31 political parties.