FIRST WEEK OF VOTER REGISTRATION RUNS SMOOTHLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002300 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL SUBJECT: FIRST WEEK OF VOTER REGISTRATION RUNS SMOOTHLY REF: A. BAGHDAD 2280 ¶B. BAGHDAD 2271 Classified By: PolCouns Robert Ford for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Iraq has just completed its first week of voter registration on July 22, and although there were a few hiccups on the first day, overall the process has run smoothly. So far, over 150,000 people have checked their names at voter registration centers, including almost 2,000 internally displaced persons, and those numbers are increasing daily, although the numbers are still lower than anticipated. Previously underrepresented areas have added voter registration centers and efforts are underway to increase public outreach, encouraging Iraqis to check their names on the provisional voter registration list. UN elections advisors have pronounced the Independent High Electoral Commission capable of conducting provincial elections this year. Of course, ultimately the conduct of provincial elections depends on a final GOI approval of a so-far problematic provincial election law (ref A). End Summary. ¶2. (C) Iraq completed its first of fours weeks of voter registration on July 22, and except for a few security incidents on the first day the process is running smoothly. On July 15, 563 of 564 voter registration centers (VRCs) opened. Security was not in place at 34 VRCs at opening time, however Iraqi police eventually arrived at all but four centers. Even without security, Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) field staff decided to open those centers. Only four incidences of violence were reported, all in Ninewa province: an IHEC security guard was killed by a sniper; assailants entered a VRC and attacked the staff; a VBIED exploded near another VRC; and one VRC was moved for unspecified security reasons (ref B). By the end of the day, all incidents were resolved and the centers re-opened, and there have been no other reports of violence since. ¶3. (C) Although VRC managers have reportedly been disappointed with registration turn out, closing reports from the Governorate Electoral Offices (GEOs) have shown the numbers increasing every day. In the seven days of registration so far (the VRCs are closed on Fridays),over 150,000 people have checked their names at VRCs. (Note: During the voter registration update period leading to the 2005 elections, approximately 1.5 million people updated their registration information at a VRC. End Note) Ninewa has consistently had the largest turnout, followed closely by Salah-ad-Din and Diyala, but in the later half of the week, Anbar, Kirkuk and Maysan started to catch up. Almost all of the nearly 2,000 IDPs who have registered are in Dohuk. (Note: There are approximately 1.5 million names on the IDP provisional voter list, which is available at every VRC. The other 22 million names on the provisional voter list are distributed by district. End Note) ¶4. (C) MNF-I assisted IHEC in relocating 40 VRCs, 15 to resolve the underrepresentation issue (the others were moved because of problems with the building.) MNF-I had voiced its concern to IHEC regarding large Sunni areas having few or no VRCs. One VRC in Yusifiya had only two people come in to register in the first two days. The VRC manager agreed to move the center to a Sunni area, and the number of visitors increased. ¶5. (C) Reports on the success of public outreach announcing the voter registration period have been mixed. Some provinces are well aware of voter registration, while others are getting most of their information via word of mouth. Some VRCs have not put up the IHEC-issued posters advertising the site as a VRC for fear of inviting attacks. MNF-I has reported some potential registrants were fearful of approaching VRCs guarded by Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). MNF-I has worked with IHEC in producing voter registration information, and will help with additional TV and radio announcements that will assist registrants in locating their VRC and allay their fears of the ISF guards. ¶6. (C) Comment: Sandra Mitchell, UNAMI's Senior Election Advisor confided in PolOff she had concerns that IHEC was not up to the task of conducting provincial elections this year. After the first week of voter registration, however, which she spent observing the election commission making decisions to adjust for realities on the ground, she stated she was more confident than ever IHEC had the capability to conduct elections this year. Although seemingly off to a slow start, voter registration is picking up with close to 30,000 visitors each day. There is some concern IDPs outside of Dohuk are not registering in large numbers. We will reach out to the PRTs to assess the public outreach programs aimed at IDP registration. If it appears to be lacking, we will urge IHEC to increase its efforts to reach this important BAGHDAD 00002300 002 OF 002 population. That, of course, will ultimately depend on the Iraqis reaching a political compromise and a final approval by the GOI on an election law (ref A),but it is encouraging to see that they are capable of dealing with the logistical aspects of preparing for elections. End Comment. CROCKER