Iraqi Poll

Blogger Arthur Chrenkoff reports today...

Reader Haider Ajina translates an article from the January 26th edition of the Arabic newspaper "Alsharq Alausat":

"First poll conducted by the Iraqi ministry of planning shows 72.4% Iraqis will vote.

In a Poll of 33,313 Iraqis (in all of Iraq) of ages 18 and older conducted by the Iraqi ministry of planning regarding Iraqis participation in the Iraqi elections taking place the end of this month. The results were as follows.

72.4 % of all of those polled said they would participate in the elections.

97% of Iraqis in Kurdistan said they would participate in the elections.
96% of Iraqis in the southern provinces (mainly Sheeit [Shia] areas) said they would participate in the elections.
33% of Iraqis in the central provinces (Sunni Area) said they would participate in the elections.
10% of Iraqis in central provinces (Sunni Area) said they have not yet made their mind if they were going to vote or not.

62.1% of those polled said that the elections will be neutral and free.
17.8% said elections will not be neutral and free.
11.6% did not answer this question.

66% said that the elections must take place under current circumstances.

53.3% said the security is good in their area.
21.7% said that security was average in their area.
25% said that security was bad in their area."

The die is cast. Those of us in the West nonchalant about democracy and complacent about our freedoms should spare a thought for the millions of Iraqis who on Sunday will be risking death to have a chance to elect their government.