BAGHDAD - On Baghdad’s famed literary street al-Mutanabbi, most Iraqis polled in an informal survey said they will not be voting in the October 10 parliamentary election.
“I won’t vote because we live in a corrupt system,” said labourer Mohammed Jabir.
“From 2003 until now, the political elite in power in Iraq has not done anything for the people,” said poet Abu Sa’d Iraqi.
Eighty people participated in the poll. There was a clear trend towards not voting, but some said it is their civic duty to get out on election day.
“We should all work towards change. Change will come through the ballot box,” said civil servant Sana Naqqash.
Polls have predicted a record-low turnout of about 30 percent in an environment where armed militias operate with impunity outside of government control, Islamic State (ISIS) militants carry out frequent attacks, and fears of electoral fraud coupled with disillusionment over the political system are threatening to keep many voters away. The government has imposed strict security measures and enlisted hundreds of international monitors to observe the vote.
Translation and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed
