Low Turnout in Iraqi Elections

As most of Iraq’s provinces headed to the polls, low voter turnout, technical errors and some incidents of violence served as reminders of the issues still plaguing Iraqi society, writes Ali Abel Sadah.
An employee of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) sits on ballot boxes at a tally center in Baghdad April 23, 2013.Voter participation in Iraq's provincial election on Saturday was 50 percent of eligible voters, the country's electoral authorities said after poll stations closed. Election officials said including results from a special vote a week earlier for members of the armed forces, total participation would be more than 51 percent. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)
An employee of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) sits on ballot boxes at a tally center in Baghdad, April 23, 2013. - REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen
Ali Abel Sadah
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Iraqis have cast their ballots, selecting local council representatives in the 12 provinces, amid a severe political crisis and rivalry between representatives of political groups.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) said that election turnout was 50%; however, local monitoring networks reported a smaller turnout that amounted to around 37%.

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