Special voting arranged in Iraq for soldiers, patients and the displaced

Published October 9, 2021
IRAQI soldiers wait to cast their votes. — AFP
IRAQI soldiers wait to cast their votes. — AFP

BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces, displaced people, patients in hospitals and prisoners across the country cast their ballots on Friday, two days before the rest of the nation votes in parliamentary elections.

Sunday’s vote is being held six months before schedule, in line with a promise made by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi when he assumed office in 2020. He is seeking to appease anti-government protesters who rose up in October 2019 in Baghdad and Iraq’s south.

Candidates have been trying to convince a reluctant electorate to vote, fearing a repeat of the 2018 elections which saw a record low turnout.

Al-Kadhimi, on a walking tour in Baghdad neighbourhoods to oversee the voting, said he was satisfied with the turnout Friday and that the process was smooth.

These are the first elections since 2003 that are taking place without a curfew in place, he told The Associated Press, a reference to improved security after years of war and conflict.

“I am satisfied with the way things are going so far,” added al-Kadhimi, who is not running in the elections. The prime minister is chosen by the largest bloc in parliament.

Friday’s so-called special voting two days ahead of the election is meant to free police and soldiers so they can provide security on Election Day. A government advisor for election affairs, Hussein al-Hendawi, said more than 1.5 million security personnel were eligible to vote, as well as 120,126 displaced persons and hundreds of hospital patients and prisoners.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.