Cablegate: Iraq Elections: Light Turnout On First Day of Iraq

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

131652Z Dec 05

UNCLAS AMMAN 009630

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV IZ JO
SUBJECT: IRAQ ELECTIONS: LIGHT TURNOUT ON FIRST DAY OF IRAQ
OCV IN JORDAN

Ref: AMMAN 9513

LIGHT FIRST DAY TURNOUT
-----------------------

1. (SBU) Voter turnout was generally light on December 13,
the first of three days of Iraqi election Out-of-Country
Voting (OCV) in Jordan. Amman-based Independent Election
Commission of Iraq (IECI) OCV chief Hamdia al-Husseini told
Emboff that less than 3,000 Iraqis had voted countrywide as
of 3:00PM on December 13. However, she noted that the polls
will remain open until 8:00PM, and predicted that a
significant surge in voting will occur after voters get off
work.

SMOOTH OPERATIONS, MANY OBSERVERS
---------------------------------

2. (SBU) During the course of the day, Embassy Amman
election observer teams visited all thirteen OCV polling
sites in Jordan, consisting of ten in Amman and one each in
the cities of Zarqa and Irbid and at the Jordan-Iraq Police
Training Center (JIPTC). Embassy observers found polling
operations proceeding smoothly, professionally, and without
incident, in an overall atmosphere that ranged from business-
like to celebratory. Embassy teams also noted the presence
at polling stations of other international observers,
including many from the International Mission for Iraqi
Elections (IMIE).

3. (SBU) A large number of Iraqi political party observers
from across the spectrum were also noted; Allawi Coalition
Amman campaign chief Jaffar al-Taie told us that the Allawi
campaign would position observers at all polling sites from
opening until closing. International press was observed at
some polling stations in Amman, including CNN, BBC, Japanese
press, and even a correspondent from Mother Jones magazine.
An Al-Iraqiyya TV crew was also in action.

SINGING AND COOKIES
-------------------

4. (U) Polling sites near areas inhabited by wealthy and
middle class Iraqis, such as the relatively upscale
neighborhoods of Rabia and Sweifeyeh, appeared to have
attracted the largest turnout by midday. By contrast, OCV
polling stations in Zarqa and Irbid each had received less
than 100 voters by 1PM. Observers at some of the better-
attended voting stations noted an almost jovial atmosphere,
with occasional bursts of singing and the passing around of
candy and cookies at one OCV location. Voting at JIPTC was
the most organized, as individual groups of cadet voters
arrived to vote at pre-assigned times.

SECURITY MEASURES
-----------------

5. (SBU) Perimeter security provided by the Jordanian
police was uniformly excellent. One or more blocks adjacent
to each polling station (frequently an elementary school)
were closed off, and a heavy and watchful security presence,
some armed, was noticeable. The inner ring of security,
provided by a commercial security company, was more erratic
- in some cases, Amman observers experienced two frisks plus
a metal detector check, while in others there was only one
or two frisks, with no metal detector.

Hale

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