Iraq’s electoral commission warns of candidate disqualification over voter card violations

BAGHDAD — The Independent High Electoral Commission said Saturday that financial penalties ranging from 2 million to 10 million dinars ($1,420–$7,090) have been imposed on candidates who violated electoral regulations. It described attempts to buy or destroy voter cards as serious electoral crimes subject to judicial action and confirmed that repeated offenses or proven vote card purchases could lead to a candidate’s disqualification.

Hassan Salman, the commission’s legal adviser, told the state news agency that “the commission continues its preparations for the upcoming elections, including monitoring the campaign process under Regulation No. 4, which governs candidates’ electoral advertising.”

He said that “since the start of the campaign period, the commission has recorded around 400 violations by candidates, parties, and alliances, most involving the placement of advertisements in unauthorized areas or the misuse of official influence.”

“The penalties imposed were mostly financial fines ranging between two million and ten million dinars ($1,420–$7,090), the highest monetary punishment imposed so far,” Salman said. He added that “repeated violations are considered under the law as recidivist crimes if the candidate insists on continuing them, and such cases are subject to the discretion of the Board of Commissioners. Persistent repetition could result in the candidate’s disqualification.”

Salman said “attempts to buy or destroy voter cards constitute a serious electoral crime. The commission, in cooperation with the Supreme Judicial Council, has filed criminal complaints against those involved, who are now under legal investigation by the competent authorities.” He noted that “penalties could reach permanent disqualification from the electoral race if convictions are confirmed.”

Regarding candidate verification, Salman said that “the vetting process has been completed according to the operational timeline, but some updates remain ongoing due to delays in responses from certain oversight bodies or new developments concerning candidates.”