Referendum Commission publishes website for members of Kurdistan Diaspora to register, vote

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) - Moving forward with its plan to the referendum on independence scheduled for September 25, the Kurdistan Region is providing tools to allow its citizens living abroad to have their say.

According to an Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission (IHERC) announcement, the people of the Kurdistan Region Diaspora will need to register to vote at www.khec.krd starting September 1.

Registration will be open for one week, from Sep 1 to Sep 7, the statement explained.

After registering, individuals will receive a confirmation code via email to be used one time on the day of the vote, the IHERC previously stated.

There are large segments of the Kurdish people living in the diaspora, spread across different parts of the world, namely Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, UK, USA, Canada, and Australia.

Kurdish communities in Germany and Sweden have planned to host festivals in support of the independence referendum on August 26 and September 16, respectively, where a large number of Kurds and friends of the cause are expected to join the rallies.

Kurdish officials have regularly criticized the federal government of Iraq for repeatedly violating the Constitution of Iraq and treating the people of the Kurdistan Region as second-class citizens.

“The adherence to the Constitution of Iraq guarantees its free union of people, of land, and of sovereignty. Failure to adhere to it means the unity of Iraq cannot be guaranteed,” President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani has noted, referring to the preamble of the Iraqi Constitution to justify the move toward independence.  

He and others have claimed Baghdad has violated over 50 Articles of the Constitution.

Kurdistan Region senior officials insist on holding the vote despite the concerns and the opposition of neighboring countries and the US regarding the referendum's timing.

“The people of the Kurdistan Region have the right to peacefully and democratically decide on its future,” Barzani said previously.

Editing by G.H. Renaud