MOROCCO: VOTER REGISTRATION LAGGING

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000852

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO: VOTER REGISTRATION LAGGING


Classified by Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary: Poorer than expected results have prompted
the GOM to extend by another week open season for voter
registration. So far less than half of the anticipated three
million new and updated registrations have been processed.
This could be an early indicator of voter apathy, or worse,
toward Morocco's first lower house elections in five years,
scheduled for September 7. Lower registration will come as a
disappointment to the GOM, which has worked hard to sign up
new voters. Low turnout, possibly exacerbated by calls from
some Islamists to sit out the polls, would be seen by many as
an expression of public alienation from the existing
political system. End summary.


2. (SBU) Hassan Aghmari, Director for Elections at the
Ministry of Interior (MOI),announced in early May that 1.4
million citizens have presented themselves at registration
kiosks in place around the country since March. This figure
represents a 10 percent increase in the number of registered
voters in Morocco, which now stands at 14,518,750 of
Morocco's total population of 33 million. However, the
figure is less than half of the three million new and
modified registrations MOI officials had earlier said they
were hoping for.


3. (SBU) In hopes of increasing the number, the MOI last week
announced an extension of the open season period until May
14, with registration kiosks remaining open on Saturdays and
Sundays until 7 p.m. After registration closes, an updated
voters roll will be posted on the MOI's innovative website.
The website, launched earlier this spring, allows citizens to
verify their registration and personal details online.


4. (SBU) This has also been the first year Moroccans living
abroad have been allowed to register at Moroccan diplomatic
facilities. Ads encouraging registration have run on
satellite channels watched by Moroccan expatriates in Europe.
(However, Moroccan citizens abroad still have to report to
their home districts in the Kingdom to vote.) MOI contacts
have earlier stressed to us their particular interest in
attracting traditional non-voters, and their optimism that
this could be achieved.


5. (C) Comment: The GOM has invested considerable effort in
encouraging citizens to register and in publicizing the
current registration period. The attainment of less than
fifty percent of the target number of new and updated
registrations counts as a disappointment, and could be an
early indicator of voter apathy in the September polls, or
worse, alienation. In a system where the powers of the
parliament are limited, some voters have expressed a "why
bother?" attitude. Low turnout figures are likely to be
interpreted by GOM critics as a referendum on the current
system. This factor could be exacerbated by the statements
of the leadership of the influential (but unrecognized)
Islamist Justice and Charity Organization, urging Moroccans
not to vote absent wholesale constitutional reform. End
comment.


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