Shirwan Zirari, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Independent High Referendum and Election Commission (IHREC), told reporters that the Peshmerga and interior ministries have provided them with the positions of the Peshmerga and the security forces in Kurdistan so that they can vote in their areas where they are deployed.
The Peshmerga forces have been fighting against the ISIS group since 2014, and some are still posted bordering ISIS-controlled territories such as Hawija, south of Kirkuk.
It was earlier expected — as was the case with every previous general election in the Kurdistan Region — that the special vote will also include Kurdish prisoners, those hospitalized, plus those displaced in camps two days before the vote.
Zirar said although holding the special vote on September 25 adds more pressure for the commission; they are well capable of the task. He also said that they have created a different database that prohibits the special voters from also casting their votes at normal stations.
The commission has a list 65,000 people who have died since the last election held, and they are acting to remove their names from the electoral rolls.
He said that the commission is prepared to hold the referendum on time, as well as the presidential and parliamentary elections — scheduled for November 1.
The Kurdistan Region has asked local and international media outlets to register with the commissioner if they wish to cover the independence vote, and thus far 65 media organizations have done so.
Six local and international election monitors have also showed interested to take part in the referendum.
Zirar said that they have agreed to allow individual lawmakers or officials from foreign countries to register themselves as monitors. He said the Kurdistan Region’s foreign office made the request.
Regarding the registration of the Kurdish political entities, the spokesperson said they extended the registration period until September 28 so that they can register themselves for the general elections set for November 1.
