Kurdistan24's reporter briefly obstructed during special voting in Koya
"We faced obstacles entering the polling station, even though other media outlets were allowed inside," Mawludi stated. The situation was promptly resolved after contacting the IHEC's Erbil office, allowing Kurdistan24 to proceed with its coverage.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Kurdistan24's coverage for the special voting process for the Kurdistan Region's sixth parliamentary elections encountered a brief obstacle in Koya on Friday, as reported by Kurdistan24 correspondent Hero Mawludi.
The incident highlights the delicate balance between security measures and press freedom during this crucial democratic exercise.
Kurdistan24's Mawludi reported that security personnel at the Koya Boys' High School polling station initially prevented media access to her, despite possessing valid press credentials issued by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).
"We faced obstacles entering the polling station, even though other media outlets were allowed inside," Mawludi stated. The situation was promptly resolved after contacting the IHEC's Erbil office, allowing Kurdistan24 to proceed with its coverage.
The special voting for security forces from the Ministry of Interior and military personnel from the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs began at 7:00 AM on Friday, and is scheduled to continue until 6:00 PM.
Koya, a significant city in Erbil Governorate, has a total of 5,000 eligible special voters distributed across five polling stations:
1. Chro Girls' High School: 1,723 voters
2. Koya Boys' High School: 1,673 voters
3. Koya Girls' High School: 954 voters
4. Gomashin polling station: 813 voters
5. Harmota polling station: 805 voters
"There are four polling stations within Koya city, and one additional station in the village of Gomashin," Mawludi clarified.
This incident underscores the importance of maintaining transparency and media access during the electoral process. As the Kurdistan Region moves forward with this pivotal election, ensuring both security and press freedom remains a critical balance to strike.
According to IHEC statistics, the total number of eligible voters for the Kurdistan Parliament's sixth term election is 2,889,878, with 215,960 classified as special voters participating in today's poll.
The general election for the broader populace is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20. As the special voting concludes, attention now turns to the upcoming general election, where the citizens of the Kurdistan Region will have their say in shaping the political landscape for the next four years.