BBC (Saturday): Iraq exile vote runs into trouble

[Jack Rabbit]

From the BBC Online
Dated Saturday January 22 15:30 GMT (7:30 am PST)

Iraq exile vote runs into trouble

Iraqis living abroad are being given more time to register in the country's election because of a low turnout.

The International Organization for Migration, which is organising voting in 14 countries, said registration would be extended for two days.

By Thursday, the fourth day of registration, fewer than one in 10 Iraqis had registered abroad, out of more than a million eligible voters.

Iraqi authorities insist the 30 January election can go ahead despite violence.

Read more.

The security restrictions deemed necessary make this sound like a disaster in the waiting. The spin that the media whores are going to put on the Iraqi elections after the fact to make them sound like a Bush success should be a real trip.

[KDLarsen]

1. Of course, they're not making it easy for people to register..

.. here in Denmark, we have roughly 15.000 Iraqi exiles who are allowed to vote. However, there's only one place they can register & for some it's quite a hassle to get there. Especially if they have to go back in a few weeks to do the actual voting.

Also, some Iraqi exiles might have given up on Iraq as a whole, and are trying to adapt to a new home country.

[ConcernedNonpartisan]

2. Look at Denmark and look at Iraq

Where would you rather be?

Register to vote? Why? You'll just be giving the "new" Iraq government your name, address and political preference. What happens to you and your family when the new (and presumably corrupt) government is elected and YOUR candidate didn't win.

Iraq is a tough neighborhood and the prevailing "gang" does not tolerate dissent. Historically, you vote "wrong" and you die.

These folks need to be reassured that the vote will be secret, absolutely secret!

[Moderator]

3. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1173559