Iraqi Electoral Commission taking measures to ensure IDPs vote: Spokesperson

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Electoral Commission on Wednesday announced it is taking measures to ensure that all displaced persons will be able to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections, including those in the Kurdistan Region.

The Commission will take several measures related to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their ability to vote in the May elections, spokesperson Karim al-Tamimi said.

According to Tamimi, IDPs in the four governorates of the Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Duhok, Sulaimani, and Halabja) will be allowed to use their electronic ballot cards at special polling stations for displaced people.

“Their vote will be in their four governorates, and each of them will be allowed to use their electronic ballot cards in special polling stations for displaced people,” he said.

For those displaced persons in Kirkuk, Nineveh, Salahuddin, and Anbar, Tamimi said the voters are required to bring one of four official documents which prove their identities. These include their certificate of Iraqi nationality, a valid passport, a ration card, or their voter card.

Additionally, the spokesperson noted that those IDPs who are unable to return to their homes as a result of ongoing military operations could use their “biometric or short-term ballots at polling stations open near their original areas.”

“This category [of IDPs] will only be allowed to vote in population polling stations within their province,” Tamimi explained.

Iraqi parliamentary elections are due to take place on May 12.