Elections Commission prepared for Kurdistan Regional Elections, official says

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: Iraq ’s Kurdistan Elections Commission is heading forward to prepare for the elections of the Provinces of north Iraq ’s Kurdistan Region, according to the Commission’s Chairman on Thursday.   “The Higher Elections Commission had not ceased its works in Kurdistan Region and had not received any order by an executive or legislative offices to stop its activity,” Ali Qader told IraqiNews.com news agency, pointing out that the Commission’s daily routine works regarding the modernization of the electorates records were continuing.   He said that “the previous registration and voting centers were enough and shall open to carry out the modernization of the electorates,” adding that “the record of the electorates in the Region is the best such record in Iraq, thanks to the cooperation by its citizens, the media and the social society organizations, instigating citizens of modernize their records.”   Qader said that the number of voting centers in Kurdistan Region has reached 79 branch centers in Sulaimaniya, 53 in Erbil and 43 in Dohuk Provinces.   The Chairman of the Higher Elections Commission, Faraj al-Haidary, had told IraqiNews.com recently that Iraq ’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, had instructed the freezing of the Commission’s activity, but Haidary said the Commission would continue its work unless the Iraqi Parliament would support the Prime Minister’s decision.   Noteworthy is that the Iraqi Parliament had questioned the Higher Independent Elections Commission in three sessions, in response for a demand by the State of Law Coalition, led by Maliki, charging it with material and administrative corruption.   SKH (RT)