23 September: The Story of a Decisive Day

A turnout struggling to take off, a controversy in Tangier, celebrations at the PAM, the PJD’s strong comeback, and tense anticipation at the RNI and Istiqlal… An account of how a vote unfolded that is reshaping the political landscape and already paving the way for negotiations to form the future majority.

9:10 a.m. — At the polling stations

At a rural polling station in Benslimane province, a voter pauses: the polling booth is not really a booth anymore, as it can no longer be closed. “The curtains were removed this time to prevent some people from photographing their ballot and sending the image,” explains one of the officials. The concern for transparency is clearly there, without sacrificing privacy: voters can still mark their ballots away from prying eyes before placing them in the ballot box. The latter is already quite full at this early hour of the morning. Some polling stations even saw a real influx of voters from the moment they opened.

11:45 a.m. — First official turnout figure

Through the official news agency, the Ministry of Interior publishes the first turnout rate: 4.23% at 10 a.m. nationwide, two hours after the opening of the 40,694 polling stations spread across the Kingdom’s 12 regions. This is slightly better than in 2016, when the authorities announced 4% at the same stage, out of 13.4 million registered voters. An honorable start, provided the momentum continues…

12:55 p.m. — Turnout loses momentum

It is official: the turnout rate announced by the Ministry of Interior stands at 11.34% at noon. This is far from record levels: it is even lower than in 2021, when 12% had been recorded at the same hour. However, an important nuance should be noted: on September 8, 2021, voters were called upon to take part in three elections simultaneously, legislative, communal and regional. Compared with 2016 and 2011 (10% and 11.5%, respectively), the 2026 turnout level remains within the norm.

2:10 p.m. — Controversy in Tangier

The King’s Prosecutor General at the Tangier Court of Appeal announces the opening of a judicial investigation into a video showing a transparent ballot box containing white envelopes. The magistrate refers to footage circulated on social media. “The public prosecutor’s office has decided to open a judicial investigation into this matter, in order to establish the facts and draw the resulting legal consequences,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

3:40 p.m. — Enthusiasm is slow to materialize

The rate has almost doubled since noon, but enthusiasm is still slow to emerge: turnout reaches 21% at 3 p.m. nationwide, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior. The supervisory department assures that “the voting process is continuing and is taking place under normal conditions, according to information received from the various prefectures, provinces and district prefectures of the Kingdom.”

6:40 p.m. — A worrying checkpoint

The 5 p.m. turnout figure finally comes in. It is undoubtedly the most significant checkpoint for identifying a trend, and the figure is hardly encouraging: only 28%, one of the lowest levels observed in recent legislative elections. Recorded two hours before the polling stations close, it does not bode well for the final turnout.

10:10 p.m. — Final turnout at 38%

“According to information collected from the provinces, prefectures and district prefectures of the Kingdom, the national turnout rate reached 38.02%,” the Ministry of Interior officially announces.

This is one of the lowest levels ever recorded: only 6 million voters went to the polls, out of 15.8 million registered voters, one-third fewer than in 2021.

A disappointment for the democratic process…

10:50 p.m. — Istiqlal keeps a low profile

At the central headquarters of the Istiqlal Party, the atmosphere is not one of celebration. The members of the executive committee who take turns speaking in front of the cameras nevertheless say they are confident, given “the party’s historic ties with citizens and the strong support observed during the campaign.” A support they hope will translate into votes, so that the party can obtain “the place it deserves.”

11:20 p.m. — Waiting at the RNI

At the party headquarters, Mohamed Chaouki makes several statements to the press. He says he is following the vote count calmly: according to the first results coming in from the constituencies, several party candidates have won their seats. He says he is “satisfied with the initial results” and is awaiting the official figures “with confidence.” Yet the faces remain stern…

11:30 p.m. — A night of celebration at the PAM

The narrow street leading to the party’s headquarters is almost completely blocked: party activists have turned out in large numbers to celebrate the victory. The leaders, who are compiling the results from the various polling stations, are convinced they have won and are already savoring their landslide.

Mehdi Bensaid, himself elected in his constituency, even breaks into a victory dance with his supporters.

11:45 p.m. — The PJD celebrates its “remontada”

Abdelilah Benkirane is under the spotlight. Wearing the expression of a man on a big day, he delightedly announces that his party has come first in several constituencies. The party’s senior figures believe that the PJD is “regaining its legitimate place” on the political landscape. They recall that in 2021, reduced to only 13 MPs, the party nevertheless continued to carry weight in the opposition. Now, they intend to contribute more to the general interest of the country, “whether in opposition or in government.”

3:40 a.m. — Laftit at the podium

After long hours of waiting, the Minister of Interior finally appears before the official media to deliver the almost-final results.

The turnout rate is slightly revised upward, to 38.08%, and the ranking confirms the general sentiment within party headquarters. The PAM emerges victorious with 97 seats, well ahead of the RNI and Istiqlal (neck and neck, with 66 and 65 elected members respectively). The PJD’s comeback is also confirmed, with 54 MPs. It is therefore among these three parties that the PAM should choose its allies to form the future majority.