The Independent High Electoral Commission was established in 2004 as the Independent Election Commission of Iraq (IECI) by Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order 92 as the exclusive electoral authority in Iraq.
In 2007 the IECI was renamed the IHEC in accordance with Law 11 (2007) of the Council of Representatives (COR). The IHEC is a professional, independent and neutral commission that is subject to the oversight of the Council of Representatives.
The IHEC has the exclusive authority to announce, implement and deliver regulations, rules and procedures related to referenda and elections. The IHEC is responsible for ensuring that Iraqi citizens can participate in decision-making processes through their elected representatives and the peaceful delegation of authority.
In 2005, in accordance with Article 57B of the Transitional Administrative Law there were three elections at the same time in Iraq – for the National Assembly, Governorate Councils and the Kurdistan National Assembly. In addition the electoral commission was also responsible for coordinating the Referendum on the National Constitution and the Council of Representatives elections.
Please refer to:
IHEC fact sheet
UNAMI Election Support website
The IHEC is managed by a nine member Board of Commissioners selected by the Council of Representatives. The selection process, which took place in the early 2007, was supported by UNAMI and was judged to balanced and rational and in compliance with the IHEC law and electoral best practices.
The Council of Representatives appointed a committee to select and nominate the new IHEC commissioners. The IHEC Nomination Committed included four members of the CoR Legal Committee, two members from the Integrity Committee, two members from the De-Baathification Committee, two members from the Regions and Governorates Committee, two members from the Civil Society Committee and two members of the Women’s Committee. It was chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Sheikh Khaled al-Attiya.
The mandate of the IHEC is to administer all elections and referendums in Iraq. In addition the Board of Commissioners sets policy and has the following functions:
- To establish and update a voter registry in collaboration with governorate and regional electoral offices;
- Regulate the registration and certification of political entities for the purpose of contesting elections;
- Regulate and certify candidate lists for elections;
- Accredit election observers and political party agents and media representatives;
- Adjudicate all electoral complaints and appeals;
- Certify tally procedures;
- Declare and certify final results of elections and referenda with the exception of the results of the Council of Representatives elections;
- Set regulations and instructions preserving fair electoral processes;
- Certification of the structure of the electoral administration and the appointment of senior posts;
- Set financial policy of the IHEC.
The IHEC Commissioners application form was made available on the CoR website and announcements of the application process were sent to over 400 news media outlets. UNAMI was given unrestricted access to application forms and closely monitored the entire selection process.
The Commissioners, like all employees of the IHEC, have to sign a Code of Conduct which commits them to the highest standards of impartiality and transparency.
Click here for the UNAMI report on the IHEC Commission selection process
Click here for the Code of Conduct for the Board of Commissioners