Iraq ballots to be audited due to voting "anomalies"
{{date|October 18, 2005}}
[[Image:IECI Logo.JPG|right|IECI logo]]
The [[w:Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq|Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq]] (IECI) has announced that it will audit the votes cast in this weekend's constitutional referendum in Iraq over what it sees as voting "anomalies". Adel Alami, chief electoral officer in [[w:Iraq|Iraq]], would not give any details but stated that in some provinces figures were either too low or too high when compared to international standards.

A source told the ''[[w:BBC|BBC]]'', on the condition of anonymity, that voter turnout and the result levels were causing some concern. Problems with the initial results were said to be found in the southern [[w:Shi'ite|Shi'ite]] and northern [[w:Kurdish|Kurdish]] areas of the country. 

The official said, "The first controls are now taking place. We are not ruling out technical errors or fraud, but for now it is only a question of anomalies." Six provinces in southern Iraq, inhabited by a Shia majority, voted an overwhelming 90% in favour of the new constitution. Two Sunni majority areas rejected the constitution by over 80%.

According to the source, "When you have more than 90 percent 'yes', computers signal it immediately and there is a manual check. It means the figures must be looked at closely."

The [[w:United Nations|United Nations]] had stated the voting had gone very well, although some Sunni political leaders have alleged that corrupt voting practices were used to inflate the "yes" vote. 

United States President [[w:George W. Bush|George W. Bush]] praised Iraqis, both proponents and those in opposition to the charter, saying, "I was pleased to see that the [[w:Sunni|Sunnis]] have participated in the process. The idea of deciding to go into a ballot box is a positive development."

[[w:Condoleezza Rice|Condoleezza Rice]] said that initial information pointed to a likely yes vote, although this statement was met with some  surprise by United Nations and Iraqi officials. Karina Parelli, head of the United Nations Election Assistance Team in Iraq said, "Unless Rice is more well-informed than the IECI, thus far there is no way to know the turnout percentages or the results of the voting."

An official from the IECI, Hussein Hindawi, responded, "As far as I know, she does not work at the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq."

The IECI has made no official statements regarding fraud, and an election official cautioned that it was too early to know whether the numbers were incorrect or even if they would affect the outcome.

Most Shia and Kurdish citizens of Iraq support the new constitution, while the minority Sunni ethnic group fear loss of control over the country.

It is thought that the irregularities may not have affected the outcome as two of the main battleground provinces voted strongly in favour of the constitution. The commission stated that it was re-examining the votes and the final results could be delayed by several days.

== Related news ==
*{{Wikinews|title=Iraq counting ballots
|date=October 17, 2005}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4351680.stm
|title=Iraq vote counts 'point to fraud'
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=October 18, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1818929,00.html
|title='Anomalies' in Iraq vote
|author=
|pub=News 24
|date=October 18, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20051018-073225-7695r
|title=Anomalies exposed in Iraq charter vote
|author=
|pub=Middle East Times
|date=October 18, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051018/IRAQ18/TPInternational/Africa
|title=Iraqi watchdog looks into flood of 'yes' votes
|author=
|pub=The Globe and Mail
|date=October 18, 2005}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Condoleezza Rice]]
[[Category:Sunni Islam]]
[[Category:Shia Islam]]
[[Category:Constitution of Iraq]]

[[ja:イラク国民投票、一部で数えなおしへ]]
IECI logo
The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) has announced that it will audit the votes cast in this weekend's constitutional referendum in Iraq over what it sees as voting "anomalies". Adel Alami, chief electoral officer in Iraq, would not give any details but stated that in some provinces figures were either too low or too high when compared to international standards.

A source told the BBC, on the condition of anonymity, that voter turnout and the result levels were causing some concern. Problems with the initial results were said to be found in the southern Shi'ite and northern Kurdish areas of the country. 

The official said, "The first controls are now taking place. We are not ruling out technical errors or fraud, but for now it is only a question of anomalies." Six provinces in southern Iraq, inhabited by a Shia majority, voted an overwhelming 90% in favour of the new constitution. Two Sunni majority areas rejected the constitution by over 80%.

According to the source, "When you have more than 90 percent 'yes', computers signal it immediately and there is a manual check. It means the figures must be looked at closely."

The United Nations had stated the voting had gone very well, although some Sunni political leaders have alleged that corrupt voting practices were used to inflate the "yes" vote. 

United States President George W. Bush praised Iraqis, both proponents and those in opposition to the charter, saying, "I was pleased to see that the Sunnis have participated in the process. The idea of deciding to go into a ballot box is a positive development."

Condoleezza Rice said that initial information pointed to a likely yes vote, although this statement was met with some  surprise by United Nations and Iraqi officials. Karina Parelli, head of the United Nations Election Assistance Team in Iraq said, "Unless Rice is more well-informed than the IECI, thus far there is no way to know the turnout percentages or the results of the voting."

An official from the IECI, Hussein Hindawi, responded, "As far as I know, she does not work at the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq."

The IECI has made no official statements regarding fraud, and an election official cautioned that it was too early to know whether the numbers were incorrect or even if they would affect the outcome.

Most Shia and Kurdish citizens of Iraq support the new constitution, while the minority Sunni ethnic group fear loss of control over the country.

It is thought that the irregularities may not have affected the outcome as two of the main battleground provinces voted strongly in favour of the constitution. The commission stated that it was re-examining the votes and the final results could be delayed by several days.
Politics and conflicts Iraq Middle East Condoleezza Rice Sunni Islam Shia Islam Constitution of Iraq