In previous elections, the PUK had obtained some 100,000 votes in Shingal, PUK politburo spokesperson Saadi Ahmad Pira explained to Rudaw as an example.
“Currently the majority of Shingal's residents are in camps. Large numbers of residents of towns like Tuz Khurmatu, Jalawla, and Sadiyah all have problems with voting. There are people who intimidate people so that they don't go to vote,” Pira said.
Many of Shingal’s residents who fled ISIS advance in 2014 are yet to return to home due to lack of security and services. Hundreds of Kurdish families fled Tuz Khurmatu last fall fearing ethnically-motivated violence when the town came under Iraqi control.
The populations displaced from these two towns have difficulty gaining access to ballot boxes, explained Pira, adding that Sunnis have a similar problem. Many Sunnis are also unable to return home after the conflict with ISIS.
The PUK opened its Hamrin office in Tuz Khurmatu on Tuesday, party media reported.
More than 2.2 million Iraqis are currently displaced within the country, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The senior PUK member also accused the Hashd al-Shaabi of restricting political activities and free democratic expression in the lead up to the May 12 Iraqi parliamentary elections.
"There has been a great shift in freedom of expression and democratic freedoms in Kirkuk. A force there, unfortunately the Hashd al-Shaabi, has restricted political work and activities,” Pira alleged.
Kurds and Kurdish parties in Kirkuk have expressed fears that elections in Kirkuk will not be free and fair. Kurdish candidates have reportedly been prevented from using the Kurdistan flag during campaigning.
Yet, Pira believes that the city’s Kurdish population in Kirkuk will still get out and vote.
“Kirkuk's people realize that losing Kirkuk in a war is not that big of a problem, but losing Kirkuk in a vote is a big problem,” Pira argued.
Kirkuk is a traditional PUK stronghold but many pundits have warned that the party could lose votes in the city.
Related: Kurds fear election corruption, want free campaigning in Kirkuk
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is boycotting the vote in Kirkuk, labeling the city under Iraqi control “occupied.”
Pira lamented the KDP position and stressed the importance of a united Kurdish front.
“Our discussions now pertain to forming a united force in a short period of time for the disputed territories,” he said.
Efforts to establish a unified list for the disputed territories have failed.
A delegation from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), met with Kurdistan Region parties this week. One thing discussed is bringing together Kurds from across the four parts of Kurdistan to form a national congress and present a united, Kurdish front to the world.
"Concerning the topic of a national congress, we talked about how us Kurds and the Kurds all around the world have one common issue, and it is the issue of the motherland," Pira said.
A Kurdish national congress, long dreamed of and discussed, has yet to come to fruition.
Pira said his party is ready for such a move in order to have discussions with neighbours and show them what Kurds want.
"Turkey has been plagued with Kurdophobia. We have the conviction that wherever two Kurds want to establish a Kurdish cultural center, Turkey will send an army. We hope Turkey will revise this,” Pira said, while arguing against cutting ties with Turkey.
Turkey has not opened its airspace to international flights into Sulaimani, a PUK stronghold, accusing the PUK of working with the PKK.
