Morocco’s Elections 2026: Key Facts, Voters, Parties and Seats Explained
Morocco’s 2026 legislative elections were held on September 23, 2026, giving voters the opportunity to elect members of the country’s House of Representatives. The election involved hundreds of candidate lists and millions of registered voters, with major political parties competing for seats in parliament.
The election is particularly significant because the new parliament will help shape Morocco’s next government and its approach to major issues such as employment, healthcare, education, housing and economic development.
When Were Morocco’s 2026 Elections Held?
Morocco held its 2026 legislative election on September 23, 2026. The election was the country’s 12th legislative election since independence.
A total of 395 seats in the House of Representatives were contested. Morocco’s official election information says the vote was conducted through direct universal suffrage using a list-based proportional representation system.
How Many Voters Were Registered?
According to official figures published before election day, 15,801,162 voters were registered on Morocco’s general electoral rolls.
The registered electorate included:
- 54% men
- 46% women
- 55% urban residents
- 45% rural residents
- 29% aged 60 and above
- 15% aged 25–34
- 4% aged 18–24
These figures show that Morocco's registered electorate includes a substantial older population, while younger voters make up a smaller proportion of those registered.
How Many Political Parties Contested the Election?
The election featured 28 political parties and electoral groupings, according to official pre-election figures, with candidates competing for the 395 parliamentary seats.
Major parties included:
- Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM)
- National Rally of Independents (RNI)
- Istiqlal Party (PI)
- Justice and Development Party (PJD)
- Popular Movement (MP)
- Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP)
- Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS)
- Constitutional Union (UC)
The large number of parties meant voters had a wide range of political choices.
How Are Morocco’s 395 Seats Distributed?
Morocco's House of Representatives has 395 members.
Of these:
- 305 seats are elected through local electoral districts.
- 90 seats are elected through regional electoral districts reserved for women.
The electoral system uses proportional representation through party lists. Voters select a list rather than choosing individual candidates through preferential voting. Seats are then distributed according to the electoral rules, including the highest remainder method.
This system means that the number of votes received by competing lists plays a central role in determining how parliamentary seats are allocated.
What Were the Main Issues for Voters?
Economic and social concerns were important themes surrounding the 2026 election.
Issues highlighted in reporting on the election included:
- Employment and wages
- Youth unemployment
- Housing
- Healthcare
- Education
- Inequality
- Infrastructure
- Regional economic development
Morocco is also preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, alongside major infrastructure and investment projects. The next government will therefore face questions about how economic growth and public investment translate into everyday improvements for citizens.
What Was Voter Turnout?
Official figures reported after the election put nationwide voter turnout at 38.02%.
That means participation was below half of the registered electorate, making turnout an important part of understanding the 2026 election.
It is important to distinguish between people who were eligible to vote and people who were actually registered on the electoral rolls. The official pre-election figure was about 15.8 million registered voters.
What Were the Preliminary Results?
Preliminary results announced by Morocco's Interior Ministry showed the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) with 97 seats.
The preliminary distribution announced on September 24 was:
| Party |
Preliminary seats |
| PAM |
97 |
| RNI |
66 |
| Istiqlal Party |
65 |
| PJD |
54 |
| Popular Movement |
29 |
| USFP |
26 |
| PPS |
19 |
| Constitutional Union |
17 |
| Democratic and Social Movement |
8 |
| Left Alliance |
8 |
| Front of Democratic Forces |
2 |
| Party of Equity |
2 |
| Party of New Democrats |
1 |
| Party of Unity and Democracy |
1 |
These figures are preliminary results, rather than a final political assessment of the new government.
What Happens After the Election?
The election results determine the composition of the House of Representatives. The formation of the next government follows the constitutional and political process after the parliamentary vote.
Morocco's political system also includes a powerful monarchy, meaning parliamentary elections are only one part of the country's wider governing structure. The elected government operates alongside the constitutional role and powers of the monarchy.
Why Morocco’s 2026 Election Matters
The 2026 election comes at an important point for Morocco. The country is continuing major economic and infrastructure projects while facing pressure over employment, living costs and access to public services.
The new parliament will therefore have an important role in legislation, government oversight and national policy.
For voters and observers, the election also provides an opportunity to examine how political parties performed, how many citizens participated and how the distribution of parliamentary seats shapes the country's next political phase.
Key Facts at a Glance
Election: Morocco Legislative Elections 2026
Election date: September 23, 2026
Parliament: House of Representatives
Seats: 395
Registered voters: 15,801,162
Voter turnout: 38.02%
Voting system: List-based proportional representation
Local seats: 305
Regional seats: 90
Registered candidate lists: 1,850 national-level lists and 1,615 local electoral-district lists
Main competing parties: PAM, RNI, Istiqlal, PJD and others
Preliminary seat leader: PAM with 97 seats
Final Thoughts
Morocco’s 2026 legislative election was a major national political event involving 395 parliamentary seats and more than 15.8 million registered voters.
The results will help determine the composition of Morocco’s next parliament and influence the country's legislative agenda. With employment, healthcare, education, housing and economic development among the issues receiving attention, the performance of the new parliament will be closely watched in the years ahead.
For readers following Morocco, the 2026 election provides an important snapshot of the country's political landscape, voter participation and changing parliamentary representation.
Comments