Iraq Out-of-Country Voting Program.

On January 30, 2005, Iraq held national elections to create a 275-member Transitional National Assembly (a temporary representative legislature). 111 political entities submitted candidate lists for the national elections, and a total of 256 political entities composed of 18,900 candidates registered to compete in the national election, 18 provincial elections, and the Kurdistan Regional government election. The 256 entities included 27 individuals, 33 coalitions of parties, and 196 independent parties. The Transitional National Assembly was charged, among other responsibilities, with drafting a new constitution for Iraq. The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) was established to supervise the elections and ensure a fair voting process, including the registration of Iraqi citizens and their direct descendants living abroad. The IECI authorized the International Organization for Migration to implement a limited Out-of-Country Voting Program for the January 30 election. The Iraq Out-of-County Voting Program provided a voter education campaign and technical assistance for the registration and voting process in 14 countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Jordan, The Netherlands, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. To be eligible to vote, voters must have: 1) been 18 by December 31, 2004; 2) had Iraqi citizenship or been eligible for it; and 3) been registered to vote. Registration was from January 17 to 25 and polling from January 28 to 30. The IECI estimates that more than 265,000 Iraqis registered and voted abroad.

History

On January 30, 2005, Iraq held national elections to create a 275-member Transitional National Assembly (a temporary representative legislature). 111 political entities submitted candidate lists for the national elections, and a total of 256 political entities composed of 18,900 candidates registered to compete in the national election, 18 provincial elections, and the Kurdistan Regional government election. The 256 entities included 27 individuals, 33 coalitions of parties, and 196 independent parties. The Transitional National Assembly was charged, among other responsibilities, with drafting a new constitution for Iraq.

The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) was established to supervise the elections and ensure a fair voting process, including the registration of Iraqi citizens and their direct descendants living abroad. The IECI authorized the International Organization for Migration to implement a limited Out-of-Country Voting Program for the January 30 election. The Iraq Out-of-County Voting Program provided a voter education campaign and technical assistance for the registration and voting process in 14 countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Jordan, The Netherlands, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. To be eligible to vote, voters must have: 1) been 18 by December 31, 2004; 2) had Iraqi citizenship or been eligible for it; and 3) been registered to vote. Registration was from January 17 to 25 and polling from January 28 to 30. The IECI estimates that more than 265,000 Iraqis registered and voted abroad.