Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai on Sunday threatened to jail candidates who engage in vote buying in the November 9 parliamentary elections, dpa reported.
"I hope to see no one try to test this government regarding the issue of political money," Rifai said during a visit to the premises of the official Petra news agency on its 41st anniversary.
"Those involved in political money or the buying of conscience stand to face a punishment of 7 years in jail. This government will not be lenient in the application of the law," he added.
Rifai's remarks were the latest assurances made by his government that it is determined to hold transparent and fair general elections, as instructed by King Abdullah II.
The monarch dissolved the lower house of parliament last November - two years before the completion of its four-year term - amid reports that the chamber had failed to perform its legislative and supervisory functions.
Rampant vote buying led the charges brought forward by the Islamic-led opposition to support its claim that the last election in 2007 was rigged.
The state-funded National Centre for Human Rights has acknowledged that the voting process was marred by certain "irregularities."
This year's parliamentary elections are due to be held according to a new election law that includes, for the first time, punishment for illegal practices such as vote buying.
However, the new legislation has been criticized by opposition parties for failing to adopt proportional representation.
The country's main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood movement, has said that it is still considering whether to take part in the upcoming election.