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

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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