Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

12 December 2005

Iraqi Voters Residing in United States To Cast Absentee Ballots

Approximately 240,000 Iraqis living in United States eligible to vote

Approximately 240,000 Iraqis residing in the United States will be able to cast absentee ballots in Iraq's legislative elections, according to a December 9 State Department media note.

At the request of the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, the U.S. government has allowed the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq to organize registration and voting December 13-15 in five U.S. cities: Chicago; San Diego; Nashville, Tennessee; Washington; and Detroit.

The elections take place in Iraq on December 15.

Following is the text of the media note:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
December 12, 2005

Media Note

Out of Country Voting for Iraq Elections in the United States

On December 15th, 2005, elections will be held for Iraq's National Parliament. The Parliament will then select the Prime Minister and President.  This election will decide the members for the entire new Iraqi government.

At the request of the Iraqi Embassy, the U.S. Government has agreed to allow the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) to hold parliamentary elections for Iraqi nationals residing in the U.S. from December 13 to 15, 2005, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Registration and voting can occur on the same day. Chicago, San Diego, Nashville, and Washington DC will host the main voting centers, with Detroit serving as a fifth voting center and IECI's U.S. headquarters.

There are approximately 240,000 eligible Iraqi voters in the U.S.  While the U.S. Government is not organizing this process, we support the enfranchisement of Iraqis in the United States.

In order to participate in the election, Iraqis must register.  To be considered eligible, voters must prove identity, Iraqi nationality, and have been born on or before 31 December 1986.  Under January 2005 procedures, Iraqis must be able to prove their eligibility with at least two documents issued by a state agency or international institution.  Out of Country Voting SITES:

CHICAGO
Caldo-Assyrian Community Center
9131 Niles Centre Road
Skokie, IL 60067

DETROIT
Farmington Hills Manor
23666 Orchard Lake Rd.
Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Greenfield Manor
4770 Greenfield Road
Dearborn, MI 48126

NASHVILLE
Police Benevolent Association
418 Harding Industrial Drive
Nashville, TN 37211

CALIFORNIA
Alameda County Fairgrounds
4501 Pleasanton Avenue
Pleasanton, CA 94566

Los Angeles County Fairgrounds
1101 W McKinley Ave
Pomona, CA 91768

Royal Palace Restaurant
1340 Broadway
El Cajon, CA 92021

WASHINGTON D.C.
Best Western Tysons Westpark Hotel
8401 Westpark Drive
McLean, VA 22102-3602

Media Contact: Iraq Out of Country Spokesman Michael Youash; Tel:
202-378-8082

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)