Iraq Election Objections Will Not Change Vote Outcome

(MENAFN) Iraq’s electoral authority declared Saturday that challenges to parliamentary election outcomes will leave preliminary tallies unchanged.

The commission’s legal adviser, Hassan Salman, informed a state-run news agency that grievances filed to date constitute mere complaints rather than formal appeals. “All objections submitted so far are classified as complaints only,” he stated. “It is not possible to file an appeal against preliminary results.”

Salman outlined a three-tier classification system for complaints: “yellow” designations apply to procedural issues that warrant immediate dismissal; “green” labels mark cases requiring investigative action with a 72-hour resolution mandate; while “red” flags identify matters with potential result-altering implications. He emphasized the commission “has not recorded any red complaints so far.”

The legal adviser projected an accelerated resolution timeline compared to past electoral cycles, suggesting complaint processing “may be faster than in previous elections” with possible completion by week’s end.

Addressing unsubmitted polling station results, Salman pointed to minor technical constraints affecting a limited number of locations insufficient to sway announced outcomes.

He explained that following certification by the Board of Commissioners—the commission’s supreme administrative authority—a three-day appeals window opens, followed by a seven-day board review period.

November 11 voting results positioned Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition atop the field.

Election officials announced Thursday their expectation to release certified results next week without providing specific timing.

The 329-member Council of Representatives commenced its current four-year session on January 9, 2022. Iraqi law mandates parliamentary elections occur no later than 45 days preceding legislative term expiration.

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