Iraqi Out-of-Country Voting (OCV) Program

Amman, Jordan: A total of 17,694 expatriate Iraqis registered to vote on the eighth day of registration for the International Organization for Migration’s Out-of-Country Voting (OCV) Program for Iraq’s Transitional National Assembly Election. This brings the total number of registrants to 255,611.

On 17 January, Iraq OCV opened 75 registration facilities in the 14 countries hosting the Program across the Middle East, North America, Europe and Australia. Registration is necessary for any expatriate Iraqi wanting to participate in the Out-of-Country Vote. Facilities will be open every day from 08:00 to 19:00, local time (except in the Netherlands where centres still close at 17:00). Additionally, registration has now been extended until Tuesday, 25 January.

To be deemed eligible to participate in the Out-of-Country Voting Program, Iraqis have to prove their identity, their Iraqi nationality, and must have been born on, or before, 31 December 1986. They must present at least two acceptable forms of documentation to registration officials. This could include be a passport or any other relevant document issued by a state, state agency or international institution.

Once people have successfully registered to vote, they will be issued with a registration receipt which they must present on polling day, together with a photo ID. Voters must return to the same station they registered in to cast their vote. Polling takes place from 28 to 30 January, with the last day coinciding with Election Day in Iraq.

IOM is conducting an OCV Program on behalf of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI). The IECI is the exclusive electoral authority for the Iraq elections. It is an independent, non-partisan body, which has the authority to legally enforce rules and procedures relating to elections held throughout the Transitional Period.

Click here for a more detailed breakdown of registration numbers.

For full information on registration locations, voter eligibility criteria, or procedures for becoming accredited to observe or cover Iraq OCV’s registration, polling and counting processes, please visit http://www.iraqocv.org/.

Monique De Groot IOM OCV Iraq Spokesperson +962 (0)79 640 0436

Darren Boisvert IOM OCV HQ Media Officer +962 (0)79 640 0392

Sarah Tosh IOM OCV HQ Media Officer +962 (0)79 640 0399