Jordanians vote in parliamentary elections touted as start of democratization process
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jordanians have started voting in parliamentary elections touted as the start of a democratization process that will see the king hand over considerable powers to the newly chosen legislature.
Abdul-Illah Khatib, who is head of the Independent Electoral Commission, says polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time (4 a.m. GMT) Wednesday, but voting began later because of technical computer problems.
He says at least 125,000 Jordanians, or 5 percent of the 2.3 million who registered to vote, cast ballots in the first two hours of voting.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan's largest opposition group, is boycotting the polls in protest against an electoral law it says favors pro-king loyalists. Four other smaller leftist parties are also staying away.