Independent High Electoral
Commission conducts signature collection for the
proposed referendum in Basra
As defined by the Law of the Executive Procedures
regarding the formation of regions 13/2008,
following receipt of the initial petition of at
least 2% of eligible voters from the governorate of
Basra, IHEC should provide an opportunity for all
eligible voters within the governorate to sign in
support of the proposed referendum for the formation
of the region.
A region is a legal entity that consists of one
governorate or more.
For the purposes of the collection of signatures,
the IHEC opened 34 sub-centers in the governorate of
Basra on 15 December 2008, from 8 AM to 4 PM, where
eligible voters may submit their requests of support
for the organization of a referendum from 15
December 2008 to 14 January 2009.
Voters born in 1991 will be allowed to register and
submit signatures from 1st January 2009 when they
become eligible.
The Sub-Centres will remain open on 15 – 21 January
2009 for display of signature lists and forms.
Observers, political entity agents and media
representatives accredited by the IHEC may be
present at the Sub-Centres to ensure that the
application process is free and fair.
Once the signature collection period has ended, the
IHEC will certify whether the threshold of 10% of
valid voters has been reached (total valid voters in
Basra 1,409,393). The confirmation of the signatures
is likely to occur by the end of January. Upon the
certification of 10 %, the IHEC will then begin the
implementation of the referendum itself, within
60-90 days of certification.
The national office of the IHEC is responsible for
organising, conducting and overseeing all the
procedures related to the referendum and for the
announcements of its results within 15 days from the
date of referendum, taking into consideration that
the percentage of participants is not less than 50%
of the voters.
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