Educating voters in Iraq

In January 2009, Iraqis went to the polls for provincial elections, an event marked by more registered voters than in the previous elections, a 51 per cent turnout, and a low rate of invalid ballots. Throughout 2008 UNOPS had assisted the democratic transition by providing support to the Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq (IHEC).

The UNDG Iraq Trust Fund asked UNOPS to implement the electoral education campaign with support from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. The campaign raised awareness about the electoral process, critical in a country rebuilding its political institutions after years of violent conflict.

In 2008 the Campaign gave financial and technical support to 75 Iraqi Civil Society Organizations and grass-roots electoral education activities that reached more than 200,000 citizens across the country, with a special focus on women, minorities, disabled people, first-time voters and internally displaced people.

In the run-up to Election Day the campaign organized 100 ‘opinion leaders sessions’ across the country, involving political entities, tribal and religious leaders, local civil servants and academics, as well as leaders of youth and women associations, in informing communities about the importance of elections.

Electoral support

In parallel to the voter education project, UNOPS under the lead of UNAMI Electoral Assistance Team, continued its support to the institutional development of the Independent High Electoral Commission, set up a country-wide communications network for the Commission headquarters and its 19 sub-offices at the governorate level, and supported the mobilisation and training of 45 000 domestic electoral observers for Election Day.

UNOPS and elections

Since 1999 UNOPS has supported elections in 15 countries spanning four continents. UNOPS has experience in a range of election services including: procuring election goods, such as voting booths and ballot boxes; handling logistics; recruiting and administering support personnel; supporting infrastructure, such as polling stations; supporting electoral observer missions; and related development of national implementation capacity.

UNOPS Iraq elections portfolio - January 2009