Info

Iraq

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	b. No, existing regional/provincial/other boundaries are used
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	d. Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	d. Indirectly elected by legislature
Comments:	The Council of Representatives elects the President by a two-thirds majority of the number of its members.
Source:	Constitution, art. 61 & 70
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	d. Leader of the party which forms the government becomes Head of Government
Comments:	The President of the Republic shall charge the nominee of the largest Council of Representatives bloc with the formation of the Council of Ministers within fifteen days from the date of the election of the President of the Republic.
Source:	Constitution, art. 76
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, art. 67 - 75
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	a. One chamber
Comments:
Source:	Constitution, art. 49 - 64
Verified:	2009/10/29

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	g. List Proportional Representation
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA: Table of Electoral Systems Worldwide (http://www.idea.int/esd/world.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/29

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	b. Separate legislation
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections b. Regional elections c. Local elections
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source:	International IDEA Voter Turnout Website (http://www.idea.int/vt/)
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	b. EMB
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution 	Independent Election Commission of Iraq.  Anticipated to become Independent High Electoral Commission – pending passage of new Law.
Full Address 	
Telephone 	
Facsimile 	
Email 	
Website Address 	www.ieciraq.org 
Name and Title of Chairperson/President 	Dr Abdul Hussain Hindawi
Information Officer 	
Official language of the electoral law governing national elections 	Arabic and Kurkish 

Source

Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program

Verified

2007/01/24

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level
Comments:	The role of the EMB and regional and local electoral processes will be defined in the upcoming months (this data entered 24 Jan. 2007)when the law for the establishment of the permanent electoral commission is enacted.
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature d. A national government department
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	d. Other
Comments:	The draft for the new legislation would make the term five years, and the term would be extendable.
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body g. NGOs/ Civic Organizations h. Political parties/ candidates
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	c. Other
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, conducted by the National Electoral Management Body
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/25

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:	18 years
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	e. Other
Comments:	e) Being listed on one of the national registers and have not been deprived of the right to vote by an authoritative court.
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	d. Election Management Body (specify)
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	b. Citizens residing outside the country
Comments:	b) Only allowed for parliamentary elections.
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	c. Special polling stations
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Signature requirement (specify requirement) b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments:	a) Signature and data requirements: the names, dates and places of birth, addresses, signatures, personal stamps or thumbprints, of no fewer than five hundred (500) persons who are eligible to vote and have not signed in support of another political entity, together with the numbers and dates of their nationality certificates. b) Deposit requirement: an individual seeking certification as a political entity will pay 2.5 million Iraqi Dinars as a deposit, and a group seeking certification as a political entity will pay 7.5 million Iraqi Dinars as a deposit.
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship f. Registration h. Minimum level of education j. Other
Comments:	a) The candidate may be no less than thirty years of age in the year in which the election is held. h) The candidate must have at least a high school certificate or its equivalent. j) Must be known for his good conduct. See question PC06
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments:	c) As long as they meet the candidate requirements.
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	a. No
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	f. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2009/11/04

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	f. Other
Comments:	f) When the IECI (Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq) Board of Commissioners authorizes it as part of the resolution of complaints.
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2009/11/04

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Media and Elections

ME037

Parties receive free broadcast time based on

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	h. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/24

ME059

ME062

Blackout period for opinion polls

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	g. No information available
Comments:
Source:	Richard John, Chief of Party, IFES - International Election Assistance Team Program
Verified:	2007/01/25

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Transitional Law for Administration of Iraq, 25/07/05 Referendum Law, 2005 Iraqi Constitution and IECI regulations for referendum and elections (2005) Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2007/01/03

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Jose Maria Aranaz, Legal Advisor, UN-EAD. Transitional Law for Administration of Iraq, 25/07/05 Referendum Law, 2005 Iraqi Constitution and IECI regulations for referendum and elections (2005) Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2007/01/03

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Jose Maria Aranaz, Legal Advisor, UN-EAD Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD007

Recalls (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD129

Binding referenda

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD130

National referenda deal with

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	a. Constitutional changes only
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23

DD131

Direct Democracy at sub-national level

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified:	2009/10/23