Kurdistan, Iraq’s electoral commissions strengthen cooperation for upcoming elections
The IHERC and IHEC discussed in detail the relationship, cooperation, and coordination required to manage the upcoming elections in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission (IHERC) and the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) have agreed on a working joint formula to organize the upcoming elections in the Region and Iraq.
Sherwan Zirar, the IHERC Spokesperson, while speaking to media outlets on Sunday said that the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s electoral commissions held a meeting in Baghdad to determine mechanisms to strengthen cooperation between both institutions.
The IHERC and IHEC discussed in detail the relationship, cooperation, and coordination required to manage the upcoming elections in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, Zirar stated.
Zirar revealed an agreement, under the supervision of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), had been reached.
The purpose of the visit was also to use on a combined voters list for the elections in Kurdistan and Iraqi, Zirar explained, noting “Baghdad’s expressed readiness for cooperation in the matter.”
Cooperating with the IHEC would facilitate the election process in the Kurdistan Region, the IHERC spokesperson said.
In July 2014, the Kurdistan Region’s Parliament, in a majority vote, approved the establishment of the Region’s electoral commission to handle elections and referendums in the autonomous region.
Iraq plans to hold parliamentary and provincial council elections 2018.
The Kurdistan Region also plans to hold parliamentary and presidential elections this year, but the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has yet to set a date.
Editing by Nadia Riva