A Quiet End to Jordan's Potentially Volatile Elections

Jordanian citizens cast their votes Sept. 20 for lawmakers to fill the 130-seat lower house of the country's legislature. By most accounts, the elections went fairly and smoothly, and there were few reports of irregularities. One issue was reported in Central Badia district, where 8-10 ballot boxes were reported stolen, and limited unrest broke out after preliminary results were announced in Madaba, Azraq and Maan. Low voter turnout, moreover, is worrisome for the government, which is struggling to prove its competence. But all in all, the elections were democratic and disquiet was minimal....