Iraq’s special voting turnout lowest since 2005, says election monitor

BAGHDAD, December 16 – The turnout in Iraq’s special voting for the Provincial Council Elections is reportedly the lowest since the 2005 elections, according to Hoger Chato, the General Coordinator of the Shams Network for Election Monitoring. Based on the participation rates received by monitoring networks, the special voting turnout stands at 44%, Chato noted.

This statement from Chato comes hours after the “Alliance of Networks and National Organizations for Election Monitoring” released a report confirming the participation rate. However, Chato mentioned that the final figures, including those from Baghdad, are awaited and could potentially show an increase in the turnout percentage.

The preliminary assessment by the monitoring alliance highlights a notable dip in voter engagement in the special voting phase compared to previous years.