Independence referendum campaign officially starts Sep. 5

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission (IHERC) has set a date for the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum campaign.

In a statement released on Sunday, the IHERC announced the campaign for the independence referendum would start on Sep. 5 and run until Sep. 22.

The statement said no individual or group was allowed to start the campaign before the assigned date, adding anyone who violated the rules of the IHERC would face legal action.

In a meeting on June 7, chaired by the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, the representatives of the political parties in Kurdistan agreed to hold an independence referendum on Sep. 25, 2017.

Jutiyar Adil, a member of the IHERC, told Kurdistan 24 95 percent of the preparations for the independence vote are complete.

Adil added the IHERC would open its offices in the Kurdish areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Monday.

The Kurdistan Region is also providing tools to allow its citizens living abroad to have their say.

According to the IHERC, the people of the Kurdistan Region diaspora will have a one-week opportunity to register to vote at www.khec.krd starting Sep. 1.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany