Cablegate: Iraq Elections Ocv: Large Voter Turnout On Day

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

151722Z Dec 05

UNCLAS AMMAN 009700

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV IZ JO
SUBJECT: IRAQ ELECTIONS OCV: LARGE VOTER TURNOUT ON DAY
THREE IN JORDAN

Ref: A) AMMAN 9668 B) AMMAN 9630 C) AMMAN 9513

INCREASED VOTER TURNOUT
-----------------------

1. (SBU) Voter turnout increased noticeably on December 15,
the third and last day of Iraqi election Out-of-Country
Voting (OCV) in Jordan. Amman-based Independent Election
Commission of Iraq (IECI) OCV chief Hamdia al-Husseini told
Emboff at 4:30PM that voter turnout is running at almost
double that experienced on day two (reported Ref B), which
saw more than 13,000 votes cast. Husseini predicted that
voter turnout in Jordan on day three will exceed 20,000.

2. (SBU) Embassy Amman election observer teams visited 11
of the 13 OCV polling sites in Jordan December 15, and noted
substantial voter turnout. At one site, all ten voting
stations were in use by voters by mid-afternoon. As on
previous days, Embassy observers found polling operations
proceeding smoothly and professionally in a business-like
atmosphere. Observers noted that some voters brought young
children with them to witness the event.

3. (SBU) IECI's Husseini expressed annoyance at repeated
attempts at double-voting by some voters (Ref A); she
expressed confidence, however, that most of these attempts
had failed. Several Embassy observers noted that IECI staff
carefully checked voter fingers for vestiges of indelible
ink before admitting them to the voting area, and showed
zeal in ensuring that each voter's finger was well-dipped in
ink before ballots were cast. Embassy teams also noted the
presence at polling stations of observers from the
International Mission for Iraqi Elections (IMIE), and
several Iraqi political parties as well.

OCV-Jordan Vote Counting
------------------------

4. (SBU) Iraq OCV voting in Jordan is scheduled to conclude
tonight (December 15) at 8:00PM, although Husseini assured
us that any voters still in line at that time will be
allowed to vote. OCV vote-counting in Jordan will commence
at each individual voting site on Friday, December 16 at
8:00AM. Embassy observers will visit several of the polling
sites on Friday to view the vote counting process.

Hale

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