Iraq PM orders unified ID card for next general elections

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi has ordered that a single national identity card be used in Iraq's next general elections, according to a written statement from his office. Al-Zaydi chaired a joint meeting on Tuesday between the Ministry of Interior and the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) to review preparations for the upcoming vote. The meeting was attended by the director of the Office of the Chief of Staff, the director general of the Civil Status, ID Card and Residence Directorate, ministry officials and IHEC's chair, deputy chair and several board members. Al-Zaydi commended the commission's "transparent and professional" performance in previous parliamentary elections and instructed authorities to begin electoral preparations early. The prime minister stressed that the right to vote must be exercised easily and transparently, with all necessary resources provided to safeguard the ballot. He directed the Interior Ministry to prepare the data and information required by the electoral commission and to complete the technical and administrative steps needed to implement the unified ID card in the elections. No date for the next general elections has been announced. Details on the rollout of the single-identity requirement were not immediately available.