Election official reports violations in special voting process
Kurdistan24 has obtained video footage showing several security force members bringing phones into polling stations in Sulaimani and Halabja, using them to photograph their ballot papers.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Nabard Omar, the head of the Kurdistan Region's electoral committee within Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), has reported several violations during the special voting process for the Kurdistan Parliament's sixth term elections.
The incidents, primarily involving the use of mobile phones inside polling stations, were mainly observed in Sulaimani and Halabja.
In a press statement on Friday, Omar addressed the progress of the special voting and acknowledged the presence of irregularities at some polling stations.
"We faced some issues this morning, but they have been resolved," Omar stated. "Currently, no one is allowed to bring mobile phones into the polling stations.”
The use of mobile phones inside voting booths was strictly prohibited by the High Security Committee for the Kurdistan Parliamentary Elections. However, Kurdistan24 has obtained video footage showing several security force members bringing phones into polling stations in Sulaimani and Halabja, using them to photograph their ballot papers.
Omar confirmed that complaints have been filed regarding these violations. "Representatives from political parties are present at all polling stations. Any party with evidence of irregularities can file a complaint," he explained.
The electoral official also announced that the preliminary turnout figures for the special voting would be released at 12:00 PM.
The special voting process for security forces in the Kurdistan parliamentary elections began at 7:00 AM on Friday and will continue until 6:00 PM. According to IHEC statistics, out of the total 2,889,878 eligible voters for the Kurdistan Parliament's sixth term election, 215,960 are classified as special voters participating in today's poll.
This development highlights the challenges faced in ensuring a transparent and fair electoral process.
As the Kurdistan Region moves forward with this crucial democratic exercise, the handling of these reported violations and the response from political entities will be closely watched by local and international observers alike.
The general election for the broader populace is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20. As the special voting concludes, attention now turns to addressing these irregularities and preparing for 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.