IHEC Opens Applications for Proposed Basra Region Referendum

PUKMEDIA

IHEC logo.

The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has announced the launch of application procedures related to a proposal to establish Basra as a federal region.

Haider Mohammed, Director of the Basra Elections Office, said the legal framework governing the process clearly defines who is entitled to submit a formal request. Under the law, applications may only be filed either by a provincial council, through a petition signed by one-third of its members, or by voters, provided the request is supported by at least one-tenth of the province’s electorate.

He clarified that civil society organisations are not authorised to submit applications in their own name. However, their members may take part in the process as individual voters.

According to Mohammed, the law allows citizens to initiate the process through what is known as the popular will mechanism. In the first stage, at least 2 per cent of eligible voters must submit an initial application to the IHEC office in Basra, specifying the proposed structure of the region.

Once the request is received, IHEC is required to announce it publicly within three days and open a registration period lasting no less than one month. During this time, additional eligible voters may sign an official register in order to complete the 10 per cent threshold needed to move the process forward to a referendum.

Mohammed stressed that while organisations may assist with mobilisation and legal guidance, all official procedures — including voter registration, identity verification and the conduct of the referendum — fall solely under the authority of IHEC.

He confirmed that the commission has already issued signature forms for the initial 2 per cent of voters. If these signatures are validated, registration centres will be opened to collect further applications.

Once all requirements are met and verified, the request will be submitted to the Council of Ministers, which will then be asked to set a date for a referendum on the formation of the Basra region.


PUKMEDIA