Iraq weighs using national ID cards for upcoming elections

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq is considering using national identity cards as the sole voter document in upcoming elections, a shift pushed by the Prime Minister's office, according to local reports. Specialists say the existing national ID, which every citizen already carries, would replace a separate biometric voter card, eliminating the need for voters to register their biometric data independently. The change would address a recurring problem in past votes in which millions of registered voters were unable to cast ballots because their biometric data had not been updated. Linking the civil registry with the High Electoral Commission's database would allow citizens to vote without visiting registration centers, provided a secure electronic network connects the commission with the Interior Ministry. Independent commentators argue that powerful political blocs have an interest in keeping the biometric card system, which they say leaves room for proxy voting and manipulation. They contend that moving to national ID-based voting would sharply curb the trading of voter rolls tied to party cards. The author of the analysis calls for public and civil society pressure to back the reform and dismisses constitutional objections as a tactic to protect political interests. No timeline has been given for implementation, and further details from the High Electoral Commission and the Prime Minister's office were not immediately available.