Election Commission's popularity gains currency overseas

New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) Having conducted free and fair elections even in the most troubled parts of the country, the Election Commission is all set to share its recipe of resounding success with war-torn Iraq.

A 29-member team comprising Iraqi and United Nations' officials, will arrive here tomorrow on a nine-day visit to understand the functioning and success of the EC so that it can be replicated in the embattled nation when it goes to polls in 2009.

After Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussain was toppled by the Bush administration, Iraq went to the polls in haste in 2005 without any delimitation of constituencies or voter list.

According to the new constitution of Iraq, the Islamic nation will now have a general election every four year.

The team will comprise the Chief Election Commissioner of Iraq, eight Election Commissioners and five to six United Nations representatives, among others, Legal Advisor to the EC S K Mehndiratta told UNI.

Notably, Iraq constituted its election commission in April this year so that the next elections there could be conducted in a transparent manner.

The UN had asked the EC to train the delegation to help it learn the expertise and the subtle nuances of the conduct of the free and fair elections, which the constitutional body has given assent to, he added.

He said the delegation also wanted to understand minutely how the Indian voter exercised his franchise and what were the considerations uppermost in his mind while casting his vote.

''The EC will impart the delegation training to make it understand the electoral process, including the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), computerised Voter ID cards and others,'' Mr Mehndiratta said.

Asked whether the team will be given a first-hand experience during the June 2 Goa assembly elections, the Legal Advisor said though it was planned earlier it would not be possible to take it there as the Union Home Ministry, citing security concerns, has refused permission.

Now, the team would be trained using models of polling stations and booths, he added.

UNI