IHEC Spokesperson Explains Causes of Invalid Ballots in Recent Kurdistan Elections

Kurdistan 06:09 PM - 2024-10-23

Jumana al-Ghalai, IHEC Spokesperson.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has stated that electoral complaints are currently being categorised, with classifications ranging from green to yellow. Furthermore, they reported that the number of invalid ballots in the sixth term of the Kurdistan Parliamentary elections did not exceed the typical percentage observed in previous elections.

 

Complaints are Being Classified

Jumana Al-Ghalai, Spokesperson for the IHEC, stated to PUKMEDIA, "Regarding electoral complaints, they are being categorised as either yellow or green, as their severity has not escalated to the red level; they fall between green and yellow."

She further noted that there were 71 complaints related to special voting: 11 in Erbil Province, 11 in Duhok Province, 13 in Sulaymaniyah Province, and 24 in Halabja Province. Additionally, there were 118 complaints on the day of the general vote: 30 in Erbil, 61 in Sulaymaniyah, 26 in Duhok, and one in Halabja.

 

IHEC Will Provide the Results to the Candidates

Al-Ghalai confirmed to PUKMEDIA that "in the coming days, the Commission will invite candidates to visit the electoral constituency from which they were nominated—whether in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, or Duhok—before the final results are announced."

She added: "They will need to bring a 4-terabyte hard drive, upon which they will receive the results report and images of their ballot papers. This will allow them to compare the report with the photos, as some have raised concerns about potential fraud or questioned the electoral process. Providing this data and information is intended to reaffirm the integrity of the Commission's work and ensure that the elections adhere to international standards."

 

Invalid Ballots are Within the Normal Range

The Spokesperson for the IHEC stated: "The percentage of invalid ballots in the Kurdistan Parliamentary elections fell within the expected range and did not exceed the established standards for this purpose."

She elaborated on several reasons for the invalid ballots in these elections. One key reason was the candidates' failure to educate voters about the importance of marking both the party and the candidate. As a result, some voters marked only the candidate's number without indicating the party or alliance, rendering those ballots invalid.

She also mentioned that a second reason for invalid ballots was the presence of blank votes, where the voter did not select either a party or a candidate, which is likewise considered invalid. Lastly, if a voter marked both an independent candidate and a party list, that ballot would also be deemed invalid.

The IHEC reported a participation rate of 72% in the general vote, with Erbil at 74%, Sulaymaniyah at 65%, Duhok at 78%, and Halabja at 69%.

 

 

PUKMEDIA