IRAQ – Arson Of Ballot Boxes Hinders Recount Of Votes

In the wake of a decision to manually recount ballots from Iraq’s May 12 election, a storage unit in Baghdad containing such votes was set on fire. Currently, four people have been arrested for arson. Judge Abdul-Sattar al-Birqdar, a spokesman for Iraq’s Judicial Council, declared that three of the arrested suspects are police officers, and the other is an employee of the Independent High Electoral Commission. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi labelled the arson a “plot to harm the nation and its democracy.” This specific storage warehouse was the largest of four holding the 52,000 ballot boxes, and luckily, the votes themselves survived the blaze.

Amidst the already controversial election results, the fire has increased fears of politically motivated violence in the country. Iraq’s parliament adapted their election law in order to permit a recount of this nature. The amendment will require the recounting of 11 million votes and will take weeks to complete the process.

The amendment states, “The Independent High Elections Commission shall commit to a manual recount in all voting centers in Iraq under the supervision of the Supreme Judicial Council and with the attendance of representatives from political groups and the United Nations.” This extension will hinder the coalition process that needs to take place for a new government to emerge.

The reason for the recount comes as a response to accusations of fraud. This past May’s election was the first time Iraq utilized electronic methods of ballot counting, and blame has been cast upon the Independent High Electoral Commission for not properly inspecting the machines. Iraqi intelligence services stated that machine testing did indeed prove that fraud was possible.

The day of the fire was the same day the Independent High Electoral Commission was replaced by a new group of nine judges, a shift that occurred due to widespread criticism of the IHEC’s handling of the previous election.

In the May election, the coalition led by current Prime Minister Abadi came in third, with the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr coming in first. Al-Sadr advocated for less American and Iranian involvement in Iraqi affairs, the disruption of the political elite, and for the support of the lower class. His policies focus heavily on the creation of more schools and hospitals. He comes from an important religious and political family who stood opposed to Saddam Hussein’s rule and has stated he hopes to create an “Islamic democracy” in the nation. Al-Sadr’s support stems from predominantly Shi’a areas. His victory was surprising to both Iraqis in power, and to the United States, who supports the current Prime Minister al-Abadi.

The decision to replace the IHEC and begin the recounting was approved by al-Abadi. This is significant because the claims of fraud were substantiated by those in power whose coalitions had lost. The winning ticket does gives al-Sadr strong influence concerning the next Iraqi leader. Another reason for the suspension of the electoral commissioners was their discarding of votes by abroad citizens, citizens living in displacement camps and an additional 1,021 ballot boxes. This choice mainly impacted Sunni voters in the provinces of Anbar, Salahudin, Diyala and Nineveh. No reasoning for this nullification was provided to the public, and this lack of transparency furthered suspicions of corruption and illegality.

The election, which had a voter turnout rate of only 45% (historically low for Iraq), was the first to occur since the Islamic State took control. Al-Sadr will, if the recount favours him, select the next prime minister and choose how to guide the nation through its post-war period.

The United States has supported al-Abadi and therefore, they are invested in the fraud accusations as well. With a leader who opposes American interference in charge, U.S. relations will change dramatically unless the recount can somehow prove the electronic machines were part of a plot to throw the election.

Josephine Winslow

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