Investigate IHEC and Iraq for connection to PUK

[Anthea]

Electoral Violations Reported in

Sulaymaniyah and Halabja

Serious allegations of electoral misconduct have emerged from Sulaymaniyah and Halabja during the special voting process for the Kurdistan Region's sixth parliamentary elections on Friday, raising concerns about the integrity of the process ahead of the general election on October 20

Several violations, including voter intimidation, mobile phone use inside polling stations, and the presence of armed individuals, have been reported. According to Nabard Omar, head of the Kurdistan Region's electoral committee within Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), these issues primarily took place in Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and other districts. Mobile phone use, which is strictly prohibited, has been a recurring issue despite official bans.

In a press statement on Friday, Omar acknowledged the violations but reassured the public that the situation was being handled, with stricter measures now in place to prevent further incidents. "The use of mobile phones inside polling stations is now fully prohibited, and we have addressed the earlier issues," he stated. Despite this, footage obtained by Kurdistan 24 showed security force members using their phones to photograph their ballot papers at polling stations in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, further fueling concerns over electoral transparency.

Adding to the concerns, a representative from Lahur Sheikh Jangi’s list revealed that a special voting station in Halabja had been completely taken over by armed members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The station, which was designated for 900 voters, fell under the control of PUK forces, severely disrupting the voting process. The representative reported that candidates from rival political parties, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), were expelled from polling stations, and PUK officials reportedly coerced voters

Mohammed Jalal, a representative of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) in Halabja, also spoke out about the irregularities, alleging widespread voter intimidation and ballot tampering. He claimed that a significant portion of voters—approximately 95% of them—had taken photos or videos of their ballot forms, in violation of the electoral regulations. "Many voters openly admitted that they were coerced into taking these actions, with some stating that their livelihoods were at risk if they did not comply," Jalal said in an interview with Kurdistan 24.

Jalal also criticized the IHEC for what he described as their failure to enforce electoral rules. "IHEC officials merely ask voters to put away their phones without any punitive action, and many ignore these requests in front of party representatives," he noted. Moreover, Jalal claimed that armed individuals, including high-ranking officers, were present at polling stations, casting their votes while carrying weapons and photographing their ballot forms.

Further reports of irregularities surfaced from other areas within the Kurdistan Region. In Sulaymaniyah, commanders from the PUK were accused of collecting voting cards from civilians and obstructing the work of electoral officials. Additionally, in the districts of Garmian and Raparin, mobile phones were used inside voting stations, and political representatives from rival parties were reportedly expelled from polling stations, further adding to the growing list of allegations against the PUK.

The takeover of the Burhan Haji Mohammed voting station in Halabja by PUK forces was particularly concerning, with reports indicating that the station remained under the control of armed forces throughout the day. There were also allegations of armed interference at polling stations in Chamchamal, where mobile phones were used to document ballots in violation of the regulations.

Despite these alarming developments, the IHEC reported a 77% turnout by noon during the special voting process for security forces, which began at 7:00 AM and is set to continue until 6:00 PM. A total of 215,960 special voters are participating, including members of the security forces and others whose duties prevent them from voting on the general election day.

The transparency and fairness of the upcoming general election on Sunday, October 20, are now under intense scrutiny, with local and international observers closely monitoring how these violations will be addressed. The successful handling of these issues is seen as crucial for ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in the Kurdistan Region and maintaining public confidence in the democratic system.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/863831

Somebody PLEASE arrest Bafel Talabani

[Anthea]

Helwest List leader alleges kidnapping

Saleh claims that Mamosta Aziz, a Helwest List candidate in Penjwin, has been kidnapped by members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and forced to record a video under duress

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Ali Hama Saleh, the leader of the Helwest (National Stance Movement) List, has made a serious allegation of candidate intimidation as the Kurdistan Region's sixth parliamentary elections get underway.

Saleh claims that Mamosta Aziz, a Helwest List candidate in Penjwin, has been kidnapped by members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and forced to record a video under duress.

The accusation was made public on Friday, through Saleh’s official Facebook page.

In his post, Salih shared an audio message purportedly from Mamosta Aziz's daughter, stating: "Mr. Ali, I am Mamosta Aziz's daughter. Last night in Sulaimani, the PUK forcibly took my father from our home and threatened him. They opened a file on him at gunpoint, saying they would kill him and threaten his children if he doesn't withdraw from the election."

This alleged incident occurs against the backdrop of the special voting process for security forces, which began at 7:00 AM on Friday and will continue until 6:00 PM. The general election is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20.

According to the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq, which is overseeing the election, the total number of eligible voters for the Kurdistan Parliament's sixth term election is 2,889,878. Of these, 215,960 are classified as special voters participating in today's poll.

These serious allegations of candidate intimidation raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in some areas of the Kurdistan Region. As of now, there has been no official response from the PUK regarding these accusations.

Kurdistan24 is closely following this developing story and will provide updates as more information becomes available. The incident underscores the tensions that can arise during electoral periods and the importance of ensuring a free and fair voting process for all candidates and parties involved.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/80 ... in-penjwin

[Anthea]

Widespread violations in Halabja

Jalal claims that when approached, some voters openly admitted to being coerced. "Some have told us, 'My livelihood depends on this. They've threatened to dismiss me if I don't comply.'," he told Kurdistan24

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Serious allegations of electoral misconduct have emerged from Halabja during the special voting process for the Kurdistan Region's sixth parliamentary elections.

Mohammed Jalal, a representative of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) in Halabja, has reported numerous irregularities and alleged voter intimidation to Kurdistan24.

"The process is heading in a very negative direction, with violations occurring at every turn," Jalal stated. "Out of every 100 voters, we estimate that 95 have taken photos or videos of their ballot forms."

Jalal claims that when approached, some voters openly admitted to being coerced.

"We've spoken to voters who say they're being forced. Some have told us, 'My livelihood depends on this. They've threatened to dismiss me if I don't comply.' These are statements from people actively voting at the polling stations," he explained

The KIU representative also criticized the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for what he perceives as a lackadaisical approach to enforcing regulations.

"The commission is acting very indifferently. They see voters taking out their phones and merely ask them to put them away, without taking any punitive measures. Often, the voters ignore these requests and photograph their ballots right in front of party representatives," Jalal reported.

Even more alarmingly, Jalal alleged instances of armed individuals entering polling stations to vote.

"We've seen people coming to vote while carrying weapons. There have been cases of high-ranking officers, such as captains and colonels, photographing their ballot forms," he stated.

Jalal also pointed out issues with the voting schedule, saying, "They've set specific times for different units to vote, but this system isn't being adhered to properly."

These allegations, if substantiated, could cast a shadow over the integrity of the electoral process in Halabja. The IHEC has yet to respond to these specific claims.

The special voting process, which began at 7:00 AM on Friday, Oct. 18, is set to continue until 6:00 PM. It's specifically for security forces and other eligible special voters, with the general election scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 20.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/80 ... ng-process

[Anthea]

Dozens of election violations

Election monitors in the Kurdistan Region reported midday on Friday that they have documented 61 violations during the special vote, including campaigning near polling centers and voters bringing mobile phones into booths

“We have been monitoring the process with the commission [Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC)] and other [relevant] parties,” said Hogr Chato, the organizer of the Shams network for monitoring elections.

Chato detailed that 61 violations have been recorded, related to campaigning and taking mobile phones into voting stations across Duhok, Erbil, Sulaimani, Halabja, and other electoral constituencies. Some attempts were stopped by the election's security committee members.

Election monitors at polling stations on Friday reported voters bringing phones into the ballot booths, a violation of election regulations.

“If, today, during the special vote you do not stop some types of violations, in the general vote, it will get out of hand [of the IHEC],” Chato explained.

If a ballot is confirmed to be invalid as a result of breaking regulations, other votes cast at the same center could also face invalidation, according to Chato.

He emphasized the IHEC will rely on security camera footage at the polling centers to investigate complaints about violations, noting that severe cases could lead to the closure of a voting center and the punishment of responsible managers.

On Sunday, the IHEC announced it was installing 22,283 cameras across polling centers: four cameras per polling center - two per polling station room within the centers - and four backups,.

Violations included security personnel not intervening when voters bring phones into voting stations, Chato said. He added that they have photo evidence of some violations, which they will publicize and report to the IHEC.

Chato noted that campaigning has occurred near voting centers, with campaign posters still displayed, despite the official campaigning period ending on Tuesday. Violations were recorded in voting centers outside the Kurdistan Region, as well.

There are 165 polling centers opened across the country - 153 in the Kurdistan Region and 12 in Iraqi provinces. The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Body (IHEC) opened centers in Kirkuk, Baghdad, Salahaddin, Nineveh, Wasit, Diyala, and Anbar provinces for the security forces that are on duty outside the Region.

For early voting, 165 polling centers opened - 153 in the Kurdistan Region and 12 in Iraqi provinces. The IHEC opened centers in Kirkuk, Baghdad, Salahaddin, Nineveh, Wasit, Diyala, and Anbar provinces for security forces on duty outside the Region.

Severe violations such as the disclosure of voter choices, coercion, vote forging, and attempts by polling center employees to influence votes can also lead to punishments, including imprisonment, according to Chato

Aisar Yassin, a spokesperson for the IHEC, said during a press conference that the overall early voting turnout was at 70 percent until noon.

The IHEC reports detail the highest voter turnout in Duhok province at 77 percent and the lowest in the region at 64 percent in Halabja province and Wasit province at 3 percent outside Iraq.

The head of the mentoring network added that some voters’ fingerprints were not read by the machines.

“They [voters] are responsible because the commission more than once prolonged the period so that people can check their fingerprints if they are uncertain,” Chato said, “and they have not done so.”

In August, a complaint filed by over a dozen people from the Kurdistan Region’s provinces was before Iraq’s top court, decrying issues of voting machines not recognizing their fingerprints.

For the first time, the Kurdistan Region is holding its parliamentary elections with the use of electronic voting machines. The IHEC announced it has printed over 3 million ballot papers for the public vote and 251,700 sheets for special voting.

Around 215,960 members of the security forces are eligible to vote early on Friday. The polls opened at 7 am and will close at 6 pm.

The general vote for the long-delayed Kurdish parliamentary elections is on Sunday.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/181020244

[Anthea]

19 Journalist Violations

Majority in Halabja

The Reporters Organization for Rights and Development (RORD) reported that 19 violations against journalists were recorded during the special voting process across the Kurdistan Region, including 15 violations in Halabja province alone

In a statement, RORD indicated that the organization, through its network of 180 journalists throughout the Kurdistan Region, monitored the situation of media teams and recorded violations. According to the organization, 15 of the 19 violations were against journalists in Halabja province.

According to the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), 208,521 out of 215,960 registered voters participated in the special voting process for the sixth round of the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections.

Regarding the international and local monitoring of the process, Dindar Zebari, KRG's Coordinator for International Advocacy, stated that the process would be monitored at a high level, both locally and internationally. This includes 1,830 individuals from 16 consulates and 15 foreign organizations.

"International media agencies, 53 political parties, 98 local organizations, 43,139 agents and observers from political parties, 9,610 local observers, and 48 local media outlets will participate in covering the process," Zebari added.

"All the procedures for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections are being monitored at a high level, and the process is considered an important step for political stability in the Kurdistan Region," he said.

The IHEC has released its latest report on the special vote. According to the report, 215,960 voters were registered, and 208,521 people, or 97 percent, participated in the process.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/863896

[Anthea]

KIU condemns voter intimidation

The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) on Saturday said that security forces were coerced to vote for the ruling parties in Friday’s early voting for the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections

“I condemn the violations that took place yesterday in this beloved city and in many other cities of the Kurdistan Region, where security forces, including police and counterterrorism… were pressured and intimidated to vote in a way against their will,” Muthanna Amin, a KIU member of the Iraqi parliament, said during a press conference in Halabja.

According to Amin, members of the security forces were forced to vote for the ruling parties and compelled to take photos of their ballot papers as proof, which is illegal under the regulations of the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).

"Some of these violations also occurred across the Kurdistan Region, especially by both ruling parties, who unfortunately use all governmental and security apparatus resources early on for the elections. They misuse the people's stolen wealth to influence voters, even buying the conscience of some people,” he said.

After taking pictures, some security forces spoiled their ballots, leading to a high number of invalidated votes in Halabja, according to the MP. “Fortunately, a large number of these individuals later nullified their votes, despite having taken the photos, and the proof for this is that over 30 percent of the votes have been invalidated,” he said

Early voting for Kurdistan Region’s long-overdue legislative polls took place on Friday, ahead of the general vote on Sunday.

Dozens of violations were recorded, according to Hogr Chato, head of the Shams network for monitoring elections.

Several violations against journalists were also recorded, according to the Reporters Organization for Rights and Developments (RORD), which said that Halabja took the lion's share of 15 out of a total of 19 incidents reported across the Region.

Violations such as the disclosure of voter choices, coercion, vote forging, and attempts by polling center staff to influence votes could incur punishment, including imprisonment. Taking phones into voting booths is a violation of the electoral commission’s regulations but several monitors said some stations did not enforce this rule.

After numerous reports of violations, the IHEC on Saturday released a statement saying that the voting machines protect the privacy of voters and that no party, including the commission’s employees, can know a voter’s choice

The IHEC is reviewing all the complaints it received, including about voters taking their phones into the polling booths.

The head of the Duhok branch of the IHEC, however, said that “incorrect voting” was the reason for most of the spoiled ballots.

"We are also displeased that votes were invalidated, but the main reason most of these votes were voided was because the voters were unable to cast their votes correctly, and they made mistakes in the voting process," Khalid Abbas told Rudaw.

There were over 2,000 spoiled ballots in Duhok.

Amin said that the KIU will not sign off on the results of the elections. “Refusing to sign would be the greatest objection to those votes. The commission must take legal measures to address these issues,” he said.

Ninety-seven percent of eligible early voters cast a ballot, with Duhok province recording the highest turnout, according to data released by the electoral commission.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/191020242

[Anthea]

Kurdish political parties must refrain

from intimidating voters

The US ambassador to Iraq on Saturday called on Kurdistan Region’s political parties not to seek intimidation of voters during Sunday’s parliamentary elections

“We support all efforts to ensure tomorrow’s IKR [Iraqi Kurdistan Region] elections are free and fair. We call on all political parties and security forces to respect the media and civil society's vital role in the democratic process and refrain from violence or intimidation,” Alina L. Romanoswski said in a post on X.

Early voting for Kurdistan Region’s long-overdue legislative polls took place on Friday, two days before the general vote.

Dozens of violations were recorded, according to Hogr Chato, head of the Shams network for monitoring elections

Violations such as the disclosure of voter choices, coercion, vote forging, and attempts by polling center employees to influence votes could incur punishment, including imprisonment

Taking phones into the voting booths is a violation of the electoral commission’s regulations but several monitors said in some election centers voters were permitted to take their phones in.

“If, today, during the special vote you do not stop some types of violations, in the general vote, it will get out of hand,” Chato explained.

The election is being observed by nearly 2,000 members of international missions and civil organizations.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/19102024

[Anthea]

KRG Calls for Tighter Security

The Kurdistan Region Interior Ministry has called on the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) to implement stricter security measures during the ongoing election process

The statement was made by Hemin Mirani, the Director General of the Office of the Interior Ministry following a meeting between the KRG team and the IHEC, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of the elections.

Mirani outlined several key measures:

Mobile Phone and Camera Ban: Voters are prohibited from bringing mobile phones or cameras into polling stations

Only journalists, representatives of political entities, and local and international observers are allowed to bring cameras inside the polling stations

Restricted Candidate Representative Access: Candidate representatives must remain at least 150 meters away from polling stations

Poster Removal: All candidate posters and lists must be removed within 150 meters of polling stations

Restricted Access to Armed Personnel: Except for security personnel assigned under the election security committee, no individuals in military uniforms are allowed near polling stations

These measures are aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the voting process.

The general voting for the sixth session of the Kurdistan Parliament elections commenced at 7 a.m. today, with 2,686,578 eligible voters casting their ballots across the four constituencies of Erbil, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, and Halabja.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/863977

[Anthea]

IHEC Records 71 Complaints in Elections

The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has officially recorded 71 complaints related to the Kurdistan parliamentary elections held on Sunday, October 20 according to an official document released by the commission

The document shows that most of the complaints were filed in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja provinces, with 25 and 24 complaints, respectively.

In contrast, the cities of Erbil and Duhok saw fewer complaints, with only 11 filed between them.

The report highlights concerns about electoral violations, with Sulaymaniyah leading in reported complaints.

This brings the total number of registered complaints to 71, reflecting various issues raised during the voting process across different parts of the Kurdistan Region.

More details about the nature of these complaints or how they will be addressed by the commission are expected to follow as investigations into the reported violations continue.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/864137

Those violations where the use of phones involved voters being intimated / threatened by PUK to confirm voter had voted for them, has to be investigated seriously.

Voters who were intimated will not willingly come forward and complain, for that reason I believe voter intimidation was much more prevalent than recognized.

If several such mobile phone instances occurred in any particular polling station, all votes in that station should become void.

The observers are greatly to blame, when someone was found with a phone they should have been ARRESTED immediately not just told to put their phone away, that would have shown the voters that the PUK would not get away with intimidation.

[Anthea]

IHEC to address 189 complaints

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has formed three committees to review and classify complaints filed regarding the sixth Kurdistan Parliament elections.

One of these committees will review complaints from both Sulaimani and Halabja electoral districts, with a total of 189 complaints recorded across both special and general voting days.

The Office of the Chief Commissioner has issued Ministerial Order No. 123 regarding the committees, a copy of which has reached Kurdistan24 website.

The order states, "The committees' task is to separate and classify all complaints recorded during both special and general voting days of the Kurdistan Parliament elections, along with determining the severity level of these complaints."

According to the document, the committee reviewing complaints for the Erbil electoral district is headed by Fayadh Yassin Hussein, Deputy Head of the Board of Commissioners, with committee members including Muhanad Abdullah Mohammed, Marwan Riyaz Aziz, and Safa Mohammed Kamil.

The committee reviewing complaints for both Sulaimani and Halabja districts consists of Ahlam Adnan Lafta as committee chair and Board of Commissioners member, with committee members Falah Hassan Sarih, Ala Hussein Mahdi, and Muayad Shweil Obeid.

The committee reviewing complaints for the Duhok district is chaired by Fatah Mohammed Hussein, who is also a member of the Commission's Board of Commissioners, with three members: Azad Nizar Mazra, Hasanein Laith Mohammed, and Ali Saeed Jasim.

Hoger Cheto, President of Shams Network organization, announced in a press conference on Monday, "Political parties have registered 124 complaints regarding the overall process in all four districts during general voting alone."

Previously, IHEC had announced that during special voting held on Oct. 18, 71 complaints were registered: 24 in Sulaimani, 24 in Halabja, 11 in Erbil, and 11 in Duhok.

In general voting, the highest number of complaints was recorded in Sulaimani district with 61 complaints, followed by Erbil with 30, Duhok with 26, and Halabja with one complaint, bringing the total across both special and general voting to 189 complaints.

On Sunday, general voting for the sixth Kurdistan Parliament elections was held, with 2,686,578 eligible voters. According to IHEC statistics, 2,087,972 people participated in voting, representing a 72% turnout.

The highest participation rate was recorded in Duhok district at 78%, followed by Erbil at 74%, Sulaimani at 65%, and Halabja at 69%.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/80 ... complaints

[Anthea]

Four parties allege fraud and vote tampering

Four political parties which participated in the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections alleged on Tuesday there were many instances of fraud and violations, and they will release proof soon

The Iraqi electoral body on Monday announced the preliminary results of the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections, which saw a landslide victory of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) garnering nearly twice as many votes as the runner-up Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

The Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), The People’s Front (Baray Gal), and the National Stance Movement (Halwest) met in Komal’s headquarters in Sulaimani on Tuesday to discuss the elections and the preliminary results.

“We are currently in the stage of collecting and analyzing evidence, and we are closely investigating the existing evidence,” Bestun Hama Saleh, the head of Komal’s election and statistics office, said during a joint press conference after the meeting.

“In the coming days, we will make all findings public and present them to both the Iraqi parliament and institutions,” he added.

According to Rudaw’s projections, the KDP is expected to secure 39 seats, followed by PUK with 23, New Generation Movement (NGM) with 15, KIU at seven, Halwest with four, Komal three seats, and two for Baray Gal.

The representatives of the four parties said the alleged vote tampering would have a “significant impact” on the election results.

“The vote tampering and fraud had a significant impact on the overall vote count for the various parties. As Baray Gal, we are certain that the announced results do not reflect our true vote,” said Fenik Mohammed, the head of Baray Gal’s election institution.

Some of the representatives present at the presser said they have proof that their parties’ received votes which have since disappeared.

“We are defending every single vote cast by our supporters. We have candidates that could not find their votes [in the totals] nor their families. Over 15 of our candidates in Sulaimani, and eight more in Erbil and Duhok have not had their votes counted,” claimed Rebwar Karim, a leadership member of Halwest.

Earlier on Tuesday, Halwest leader Ali Hama Saleh said in a press conference that the elections were manipulated to serve three parties and his party is rejecting the results.

The Islamic Movement of Kurdistan (IMK) also rejected the results.

Jumana al-Ghalai, spokesperson for Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), told Rudaw on Monday that allegations of fraud and vote tampering are "completely unacceptable,” and that such accusations are routine for the commission.

No instances of misconduct or violations occurred during the ballot counting process for the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary election results, Ghalai said, adding the commission faces accusations of violations such as the disclosure of voter choices, coercion, vote forging, and attempts by polling center staff to influence votes could incur punishment, including imprisonment under IHEC rules.

Taking phones into voting booths was in violation of the electoral commission’s regulations, but several monitors said some stations did not enforce it.

The Kurdistan Region held parliamentary elections on Sunday. The polls had a 72 percent voter turnout, and over two million people across the Region voted, according to the IHEC.

A total of 1,191 candidates contested the 100-seat legislature, downsized from 111 seats following a major Iraqi federal court ruling in February.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/221020243

[Anthea]

Sadly, the likelihood of people coming forward with their complaints is remote because many people who have been threatened and intimated by Bafel Talabani and his Mafia, still live in fear of repercussions

I am NOT sure that I trust the findings of the IHEC, given that Bafel Talabani has had some extremely dodgy dealings with the Iraqi government as he sort to destroy Kurdistan

I am certain that the Iraqi government has something to with the high number of votes the PUK received

I wish you luck and sincerely hope you manage to find enough proof against the traitor Bafel Talabani to get him and his mafia arrested

[Anthea]

Losing Parties Reject Election Results

Some to Boycott New Parliament

Ali Bapir, leader of the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), announced on Saturday that his party would not enter the Kurdistan Region's newly elected parliament, citing alleged election rigging

Speaking at a press conference, Bapir claimed the voting process was “fabricated and extensively rigged,” which led to his party’s decision to reject the seats allocated to them.

“After confirming and being 100 percent certain, it is clear to us—as well as likely to several other parties—that the voting process was fabricated,” Bapir stated. He suggested that the rigging appeared to have been orchestrated from outside the Kurdistan Region, but did not assign blame to any specific group. (AGREED)

The October 20 elections saw the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) secure a decisive victory, nearly doubling the votes of its closest rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Komal, with 67,410 votes, was set to gain three seats but opted to reject them, with Bapir emphasizing the decision as a stand against injustice and a warning to the Region’s authorities.

“This is both a stand to defend the will and freedom of the people of the Kurdistan Region and a warning to the Region’s rulers and authorities: playing with the people's votes and will in this way leads to negative consequences,” he warned.

Komal’s decision follows allegations of electoral fraud by several political groups, including the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), the People’s Front (Baray Gal), and the National Stance Movement (Halwest). Komal is the first party to announce it will not enter parliament, while KIU has decided to take an opposition stance.

Meanwhile, Halwest leader Ali Hama Saleh rejected the election results, claiming they were manipulated to favor three major parties. The Iraqi electoral body overseeing the elections has denied these allegations, with spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai stating that there were no violations during the counting process and calling the accusations “completely unacceptable.”

More than 120 complaints were reported on election day, including allegations of campaign violations at polling stations and voters bringing phones into booths, raising concerns about voter coercion.

In a related development, the Change Movement (Gorran) also rejected the election results, citing vote rigging. Gorran’s decline in support was notable, receiving only 11,621 votes compared to 175,282 votes and 11 seats in the 2018 elections.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/864671

My thoughts:

KDP, deserved to win as it has achieved a vast amount over the past 6 years

Gorran, sadly they were and still are on the verge of collapse due to internal conflicts that has destroyed the party

People’s Front (Baray Gal), all that I have read leads me to believe that they are far more popular than the PUK and Lahur is, and always has been far more popular than the traitor Bafel Talabani

Especially after the evil traitor Bafel Talabani gave parts of Kurdistan to Iraq

I strongly believe that Iraq helped Bafel Talabani and his mafia to steal votes from Baray Gal

[Anthea]

IHEC to Announce Final Result on Wednesday

A delegation from the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) is scheduled to arrive in Erbil on Monday to prepare for the announcement of the final results of the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections

According to BasNews, the delegation is also scheduled to meet on Tuesday to address complaints filed regarding the election process, with the final results expected to be announced on Wednesday, October 30.

The names of the winning candidates will be released alongside the final results on Wednesday, and, according to IHEC, a three-day period will follow for appeals against the results.

On Friday, October 18, 2024, special voting for the Kurdistan Parliament took place, with over 215,000 members of the Peshmerga forces, security forces, police, and Ministry of Interior-affiliated forces participating.

The general election followed on October 20, with 2,686,578 voters eligible to cast ballots in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) parliament.

According to preliminary results released by IHEC, voter turnout was 72 percent.

Based on these preliminary results, the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) received the highest number of votes, securing more than 800,000 votes and winning 39 out of 95 seats, with an additional five seats allocated for various minorities in the Kurdistan Region.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/864818

The Kurdistan Democratic Party deserved to win due to all the vast improvements in the Kurdish area that it has during the fast 6 years and the international recognition and trade it has achieved

However, all Bafel Talabani has achieved is a lowering of standards across PUK administered areas and the giving away of Kurdish land to Iraq, holding an illegal coup within the PUK and removing his much loved cousin and many other elected members from the party.

Unless IHEC discover how the Traitor Bafel Talabani managed to intimidate / threaten so many people to vote for him, I will have to conclude that the IHEC and indeed someone within the Iraqi government itself are party to the fraud.

[Anthea]

Three election complaints recorded

Three complaints about the final results of the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections have been recorded, the Iraqi electoral body reported on Sunday, the final day for disputing the results

“So far, three disputes have been filed against the election results; two of these disputes were filed at the Duhok election office and one in the Sulaimani office,” Jumana al-Ghalai, spokesperson for Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), told Rudaw, noting that no complaints came from the Erbil office.

IHEC guidelines stipulate that candidates, parties, and coalitions have a three-day window after announcing the final results to dispute them.

IHEC will have “seven days” to process the disputes

(I do not trust the IHEC, I do not trust Iraq since Iraq's deal with Bafel Talabani where he betrayed Kurds by giving a large percentage of Kurdish lands to Iraq. Further, I do not believe that any Kurd would willingly have voted for Bafel Talabani and the PUK)

Iraq's Independent Electoral High Commission (IHEC) in October reported that it had received over 40 complaints during the election campaign.

Komal, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, Baray Gal, and Halwest denounced the election results, alleging fraud and manipulation, and questioned the reliability of the voting machines. The parties pledged to release evidence of alleged misconduct in due course.

Komal announced in October that it would not join the parliament. The Komal leader said that the alleged rigging appears to have been committed from outside the Kurdistan Region but did not blame any party.

The Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections in October 20 was a particularly different vote with the legislature downsized to 100 seats from 111 after a landmark Iraqi court ruling that stripped the 11 seats reserved for ethnic and religious minorities, later reinstated a quota of five seats within the 100.

The polls saw a voter turnout of 72 percent, with over two million people across the Region casting their votes, according to IHEC.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/03112024