Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) conducts polling and counting simulation exercise
A total of 1,079 polling stations (PSs), one in each voting regional centre (VRC) were involved, out of which 40 PSs were for special voting.
Baghdad, 13 July 2021 – Yesterday, Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) conducted polling and counting simulation exercise for the forthcoming early general elections. A total of 1,079 polling stations (PSs), one in each voting regional centre (VRC) were involved, out of which 40 PSs were for special voting. A total of 8,000 IHEC staff (simulating voters) voted across the country and results were transmitted later to IHEC HQ, where the retrieval of Flash Desk was also completed the same day to test the result management system. These PSs were also manually counted, the result sheets were retrieved for testing tabulation software. A copy of the results was displayed at Governorate Election Offices (GEO) levels per constituencies to depict GEO level Result Display as well.
UNAMI Office of Electoral Assistance (OEA) assisted IHEC in developing the manual counting tabulation software that have been tested in this simulation. UNAMI OEA advisors were observing the simulation at national and GEO levels and shared their observation notes for further improvement with IHEC.
UNAMI OEA also advised IHEC on how better to prepare the simulation by taking into consideration COVID-19 preventive measures and counselled IHEC on media guidance on the event and assisted in the development of a promotional and informative video with contributions from GEOs. OEA also seek the opportunity of the simulation exercise for shooting awareness video and photos on voting steps, to be used for the public outreach campaign.
Photos: IHEC Kirkuk
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