UN Special Rep. for Iraq attends election day simulation
The flag of Iraq. Photo: Getty Images
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq hosted a simulation of election day procedures on Tuesday, attended by Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
The simulation included a comprehensive demonstration of all electronic devices that will be used on election day, such as voter verification devices, polling station count optical scanners, results transmission devices, and cameras, according to a statement released by UNAMI.
The successful completion of this simulation demonstrated IHEC’s technological capability for the provincial council elections, which are set for December 18.
As mandated by 2023, UNAMI provides advice and support to IHEC in its activities.
UNAMI is unable to evaluate how the polls are being conducted because it will not be there for the elections on December 18 and will not be monitoring or observing them.
The provincial elections will cover 15 out of the 18 governorates, as the remaining three governorates belong to the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
The IHEC mentioned earlier that more than 16 million Iraqis have the right to vote and that more than 200,000 IHEC employees will supervise the voting.
There are 285 seats in provincial councils, with 10 seats designated for minorities.
The Iraqi constitution grants provincial councils a wide range of authority and states that no ministry or other non-ministerial organization may govern or oversee them.
The governorate’s executive officials, including governors, are chosen by elected provincial councils.