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Voting in northern Iraq gets robust start

Oct-15-2005 » Filed Under: Iraq News

(TFF Press Release)

MOSUL, IRAQ (October 15, 2005) – Polling centers opened early throughout Iraq today allowing citizens to stand up for democracy.

Voters went to the polls by the thousands to cast their ballots and participate in this historic national referendum in the city of Tal Afar, which during the January elections had the second-lowest voter turnout in the country. Iraqi Army and Police were the first people to vote in Tal Afar this morning.

The people of Mosul turned out in huge numbers and felt their presence was a great step to rebuilding a new Iraq. They felt voting was positive and were happy to vote without restraint. Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army are fulfilling their duties by helping polling personnel in the voting process, which was quite successful.

Lines in a city south of Mosul extended more than 200 meters. Iraqi Army Soldiers from 3rd Iraqi Army Brigade reported 34,000 voters at 39 sites in the Tigris River Valley, averaging 290 voters per site an hour. Governor Kashmoula of Mosul thanked everyone who voted and encouraged more voting in a televised address. He said it was a great day for Iraq, and that he was proud to vote.

Polling sites were plentiful throughout Iraq.

In Baghdad, Dr. Fareed Ayar, an Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) member said, “we have 6,230 polling sites, and 175,000-200,000 throughout IECI staff throughout Iraq. Eleven million voters participated in the polling process. We prepared 90,000 polls, 50,000 observing staff and 95 political representatives to observe the process.”

Iraqi citizens from Al Hadr are excited about the future of their country and are hoping that the constitution will bring Iraq together. Millions of constitution draft copies were distributed at the polling centers during today’s voting.

“I hope that by voting yes for the constitution that it will serve my country well and that security will spread across Iraq,” said Saleh Moter Spishan. “God all mighty will bring his country peace and the constitution will stop all the bloodshed in Iraq.”

The election process has been very successful as brave and courageous Iraqi citizens have made their voice heard at the polls for the future of their country.


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