Iraq election body throws out votes from 103 polling stations

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The election commission cancelled Iraqi parliamentary ballots from 103 stations on Monday across five mostly-northern provinces.

After Iraq’s High Independent Electoral Commission (IHEC) received 1, 436 complaints, they announced in a statement that votes from 103 stations have been thrown out.

The commission announcement was limited to Baghdad, Erbil, Anbar, Saladin and Nineveh.

The ballot auditing did not affect any MP’s election. It was not immediately clear why Kirkuk and Sulaimani were omitted, as several parties have complained the election process in the two provinces that saw large PUK wins.

Iraq introduced electronic voting and vote counting for the May 12 parliamentary elections in a bid to eliminate fraud. Multiple parties, however, have complained that the counting process was manipulated and have demanded a manual recount. Some Kurdish parties have called for a complete re-do of the vote. 

It added any other individual or party having reservations can file complaints at the commission offices across Iraq.

The election commission has so far declined to conduct a manual recount. 

Incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, after a late night meeting with electoral winner Muqtada al-Sadr on Saturday, urged people to accept the results and get to work building a strong government. 

Final results were released by the election commission early Saturday morning. Parties have until Tuesday to file complaints.