Reforms help drive Iraq vote turnout to 70 percent

by Jack Santucci // Published December 19, 2005
AP last Friday reported roughly 70 percent turnout in Iraq's second ever proportional voting election. "So many Sunni Arabs voted Thursday that ballots ran out in some places," according to AP.

Fearing marginalization, Sunni Arabs boycotted last January's election. Reforms to Iraq's proportional voting system were meant to mitigate that potential and foster broader electoral participation among all groups. It looks like the reforms are working.

See: [ CBS News | Iraq Voter Turnout Estimated at 70 Percent ]
[ Washington Post | Iraqi Vote Draws Big Turnout Of Sunnis ]
[ Detailed FairVote blog post on the elections ]
[ FairVote's ongoing analysis of Iraqi electoral politics ]