On 11 November the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This MoU authorises IOM to conduct an Out-of-Country Voting (OCV) Program on behalf of and under the supervision of the IECI. This program will enable many Iraqis living abroad to participate in the Iraqi National Assembly Election scheduled to take place on
30 January 2005.

The IECI chose IOM for the implementation of the Iraq OCV Program based on IOM's considerable experience in organising such external voting programmes. IOM has conducted similar elections for Bosnia-and-Herzegovina, Kosovo, East Timor and more recently conducted refugee voting in the 2004 Afghan Presidential Election in Iran and Pakistan, where over 850,000 Afghans registered and voted.

Due to the short timeframe only a limited operation will be feasible. The IECI has identified 14 countries with large expatriate Iraqi communities that the Iraq OCV Program could be conducted in: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Jordan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This is conditional on agreements being concluded with the host countries which will allow IOM to carry out the Iraq OCV Program there.

Iraqis residing in other nations may attend Iraq OCV facilities in the 14 countries chosen for the operation. It is, however, recognised that such participation will often be difficult due to distances and restrictions on movement across international borders. The travel arrangement of the individual voter is solely his/her own responsibility. Both registration and voting has to take place in-person since by-mail registration and voting cannot be employed due to the time constraints and the need for precise identification of eligible voters.

Due to the limited demographic data, and the fact that the absolute number of voters will only be known after registration has taken place, the program has a flexible operational methodology which is capable of handling up to approximately one million actual registrants and voters. This projected maximum voting population, and the fact that the event will entail significant security costs, had led the IECI to set aside $92 million as an upper ceiling for the program expenditures.

This election is for the Iraqi National Assembly which will be elected under a system of proportional representation and which will choose a Presidency Council, consisting of the President the State and two Deputies. The Presidency Council will nominate the Prime Minister as well as the Council of Ministers upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The National Assembly approves the Transitional Government by simple majority.

The National Assembly will have the responsibility for drafting the permanent constitution of Iraq. In accordance with established Iraq OCV standards Iraqis abroad will be able to participate in this national-level election, bu not in the Governorate and regional elections which are scheduled to take place at the same time.

The Iraq OCV Program will establish its headquarters in Amman, Jordan. It will also establish offices in each of the countries in which it will operate and in some cases Sub-Offices in order to place registration and polling facilities closer to centres of the Iraqi community in those countries. IOM is in the process of concluding agreements with each of the 14 governments where the Iraq OCV Program will take place in order to authorise the conduct of the program there.

In order to participate in the National Assembly election Iraqis will have to register at registration facilities first, and then vote at the polling facilities established in each of these countries. To be considered eligible they must be deemed to be Iraqi and have been born on or before 31 December 1986. Iraqis must be able to prove their eligibility to participate by providing specific supporting documents on registration. The IECI will determine the documents which can be used to prove eligibility.

Registration is planned to take place over a period of several days approximately 2 weeks before the election date. All successful registrants will receive a Registration Receipt which they will have to produce, together with a personal identification document, when returning to cast their ballot.

Following registration there will be a 2-day Display Period during which the lists of registered Iraqis will be available for public inspection. Polling will then take place over 3 days from 28 January to 30 January. In order to avoid voters casting a ballot more than once each voter will have a finger marked with indelible ink after casting the vote.

Immediately after the close of polls and under strict observation voter list data and ballots from each country will be collected and transferred to the respective Country Offices and then sent onwards to a single location where all of the Iraq OCV ballots will be counted together.

While IOM will be providing international election experts for the Iraq OCV Program, Iraqis will be recruite throughout the program in each country to work as advisors, field coordinators and registration/polling officials.

Through extensive public awareness campaigns, Iraq OCV will be informing Iraqis about their right to participate. The information and education campaigns will include material such as posters, pamphlets, radio and TV broadcasts, and community meetings.

To ensure that Iraqis around the world are aware of the registration and voting process, a call centre is being
established and will provide answers to any election question. An Internet site has been set-up (www.iraqocv.org) and will soon be updated regularly with election information. Voters, interest groups and members of the media are encouraged to check the site daily for relevant information such us polling/registration locations, press releases, contact information and downloadable photos and audio/video files.

In organising the Iraqi National Assembly election, Iraq OCV is establishing strong contacts with the Iraqi community in all Iraq OCV host countries. National expatriate leaders and other community representatives will be consulted on matters concerning the conduct of the Iraq OCV Program in those countries to pursue as broad a participation in the program as possible.

For more information please contact the Iraq OCV External Relations Department:

Monique de Groot
+962 79 640 0436
media@iraqocv.org

Darren Boisvert
+962 79 640 0392
media@iraqocv.org

Sarah Tosh
+962 79 640 0399
media@iraqocv.org