CAMP VICTORY — Approximately 3,000 detainees in Coalition custody voted Jan. 28 at eight polling stations in U.S. Theater Internment Facilities (TIF). Multi-National Force-Iraq partnered with the Government of Iraq, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), and other agencies to provide credible and legitimate special needs voting at Camp Cropper and Camp Bucca.

The Government of Iraq provided all the poll workers, ballots and administrative support, and MNF-I organized the IHEC-authorized detainees for the safe and orderly election. In addition, dozens of international and other IHEC-approved observers monitored the voting process.

Balloting opened at 7 a.m. and continued until all eligible detainees passed through the polling stations.

This was the second time the Government of Iraq established voting stations in U.S. TIFs for detainee voting.  The government provided the stations in 2005 during the country’s first provincial elections.

Many Iraqi Correctional Officers and local linguists working in the TIFs said they were honored to be part of this historical event and felt these elections are another good sign that Iraq is moving forward as a democratic nation.

Extending the vote to all eligible Iraqis is another example of how the rule of law is helping to strengthen the Iraqi society.