Political party representative alleges widespread violations in Halabja's special voting process
Jalal claims that when approached, some voters openly admitted to being coerced. "Some have told us, 'My livelihood depends on this. They've threatened to dismiss me if I don't comply.'," he told Kurdistan24.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Serious allegations of electoral misconduct have emerged from Halabja during the special voting process for the Kurdistan Region's sixth parliamentary elections.
Mohammed Jalal, a representative of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) in Halabja, has reported numerous irregularities and alleged voter intimidation to Kurdistan24.
"The process is heading in a very negative direction, with violations occurring at every turn," Jalal stated. "Out of every 100 voters, we estimate that 95 have taken photos or videos of their ballot forms."
Jalal claims that when approached, some voters openly admitted to being coerced.
"We've spoken to voters who say they're being forced. Some have told us, 'My livelihood depends on this. They've threatened to dismiss me if I don't comply.' These are statements from people actively voting at the polling stations," he explained.
The KIU representative also criticized the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for what he perceives as a lackadaisical approach to enforcing regulations.
"The commission is acting very indifferently. They see voters taking out their phones and merely ask them to put them away, without taking any punitive measures. Often, the voters ignore these requests and photograph their ballots right in front of party representatives," Jalal reported.
Even more alarmingly, Jalal alleged instances of armed individuals entering polling stations to vote.
"We've seen people coming to vote while carrying weapons. There have been cases of high-ranking officers, such as captains and colonels, photographing their ballot forms," he stated.
Jalal also pointed out issues with the voting schedule, saying, "They've set specific times for different units to vote, but this system isn't being adhered to properly."
These allegations, if substantiated, could cast a shadow over the integrity of the electoral process in Halabja. The IHEC has yet to respond to these specific claims.
The special voting process, which began at 7:00 AM on Friday, Oct. 18, is set to continue until 6:00 PM. It's specifically for security forces and other eligible special voters, with the general election scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20.