BAGHDAD, Jun 21 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said yesterday that, it approved 8,273 polling centres across the country, as part of its preparations for the parliamentary elections, scheduled for Oct 10.
These centres consist of 55,041 polling stations, and each will receive a maximum of 450 voters, said a statement, issued by the electoral commission on its website, stressing that the process of distributing polling stations depends on the voters’ place of residence.
Moreover, the electoral commission “continues receiving responses from investigation bodies, about the candidates’ eligibility to verify that he or she is not employed in the armed forces or security institutions,” according to the statement.
Initially, 3,523 candidates registered to participate in the elections, including 963 women, but figures will be updated once all candidate statistics are consolidated and cross-checked.
The electoral commission is keen to ensure integrity of the elections, in accordance with international standards, to restore citizen’s confidence in the electoral process, as many Iraqis believe that the 2018 parliamentary elections were marred by fraud and irregularities.
On Jan 19, 2021, the Iraqi government approved Oct 10, as the new date for the country’s early elections, which came in response to the anti-government protests.
The previous parliamentary elections in Iraq were held on May 12, 2018, and the next elections were originally scheduled to take place in 2022.– NNN-NINA
