Weekly Statement
- The Prime Minister renews his full support for the work of the (IHEC) and the electoral process.
- The (BoC) holds its continuous sessions to organize the electoral process.
- (BoC) approves the quarterly report of IHEC’s work.
- The (BoC) approves complaints procedures, ballot appeals, and audit centers.
- The IHEC is preparing to conduct the final simulation in early December.
Weekly Statement
The Prime Minister, H.E. (Mr. Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani), renewed his full support for the electoral process and the work of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) during his meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Judge Omar Ahmed Muhammad, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Judge Abbas Al-Fatlawi, stressing that all state agencies, with all its civil and security formations being on alert. To fully perform its role in order to ensure the success of the local elections on the scheduled date of 18th December 2023, and in turn, the judges confirmed the technical, administrative and financial preparations of the Commission, and the completion of the basic work requirements for the electoral process, in a way that ensures the holding of fair and honest elections that meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people.
The Board of Commissioners of the Independent High Electoral Commission held its regular session on the 27th of last November. To discuss a set of decisions that included the ratification of the third quarterly report for the period from (1/ July/2023-30/September/2023), which is submitted to the Iraqi Council of Representatives, and includes a summary of the Commission’s activities and preparations related to the upcoming electoral process in all its legal, technical, administrative and financial aspects, and approval of the required quantities for printing a poster, names and numbers of candidates for the local elections. In addition to approve complaints and appeals procedures for the voting phase, and the audit centers for the 2023 local elections.
In implementation of the provisions of the amended Governorate Council Elections’ Law of 2023, the Department of Operations and Information Technology / Division of Procedures and Training held a training workshop in the National Office to train employees of Training Division related to the (GEOs) which included the mechanism of operating surveillance cameras at the polling day that installed in polling centers, stations, and audit centers, in the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, and the commissioners, Judge (Omar Ahmed Muhammad), the (CEO) Judge (Abbas Al-Fatlawi), and Judge (Ali Rashid Muhammad).
Technically, the IHEC -through its technical personnel with contracted employees-is preparing to conduct the fourth and final simulation at the beginning of this December, to test the transmission medium, satellite, and receivers, which will be conducted in (7766) polling centers for special and public voting and for displaced people, this will be in the presence of the manufacturing company of the electoral electronic devices, and the testing company, the United Nations Electoral Assistance Office, as well as the “Cybersecurity” team.
To guarantee the rights of displaced voters by providing them with all requirements for the electoral process, the Election Commission conducted an electronic lottery at its headquarters to select polling officials for (1,105) displaced voters in Dohuk Governorate, through the competent central committee, to work in (34) polling centers and (131) polling stations, in the presence of a member of the Board of Commissioners, Chairman of the Committee, Judge Ali Rashid Muhammad, and members of the Committee.
IHEC has received the sensitive and non-sensitive materials including (ballot papers, results entry forms, ink, center kit, and station kit), which were completely distributed to the GEOs, the (CEO), Judge Abbas Al-Fatlawi, directed the formation of committees to follow up on the work of the GEOs, as he inspected the logistical support team in IHEC, GEOs; to make sure from its readiness and to evaluate their accomplished configuration; In order to receive internationally and locally prepared ballot materials and to complete all logistical preparations in preparation for the electoral event.
In another context, the IHEC pays great attention to the role of women in the upcoming elections, so it is working to improve their and enhance their role and legal entitlements in the local elections. The Women’s Empowerment Committee in the Independent High Electoral Commission held a discussion session under the title (We meet in order to create a greater space for women’s participation in The upcoming local elections (voter and candidate) headed by a member of the Board of Commissioners, Dr. Counsellor Ahlam Al-Jabri, as the head of the Supreme Committee for Supporting Women’s Participation in Elections, and in the presence of the United Nations Electoral Assistance Team in Iraq, and representatives of women’s empowerment departments and divisions in all ministries and agencies, as well as representatives of Media, trade unions and civil society organizations; To discuss mechanisms that would pave the way for women’s effective participation in the upcoming elections.