More cheating at polling stations in Zakho

The Change List are receiving more reports from our observers at the polling stations. At Brifka camp in Kanimase the observer have seen several whole families cast their vote twice. They are voting in the names of other families that are abroad, showing up their Food-for-oil cards.

At the polling station Nehren school in Sabanisan the observer reports seeing same persons cast their votes several times. They have been seen going to the KDP office in Sabanisan where the ink on their fingers has been washed away.

At Ermen school the observer also report that same people are voting several times. And in all polling stations our observers report seeing the supervisors and officials urging people to vote for List 54 (Kurdistani List). They also report from most of the polling stations that the supervisors are "helping" people vote behind the curtains. When we complain about this, they say "we have the right to help the illiterate and others who need help".

Kerim Haji, Moxtar (chieftain of his street) was brutally prevented to cast his vote at Jwan school. The IHEC contact at this polling station, Helagord, took his voting card out of his hands and put an X for Kurdistani List and then dropped it in the ballot box. This subsequently lead to a harsh discussion between them...

All incidents we are telling you about are being reported to the IHEC with names of witnesses and written statements.

The turnout for Zakho is 60% as of right now at 2 PM. It looks like we are seeing a high level of participation in the elections. The Kurdish people are eager to practice their right to vote in what we perceive as "the first real Kurdish election".