Iraqis still determined to vote

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Most Baghdadis Plan to Vote, Says Newspaper Poll
By Mussab al-Khairalla, Baghdad (Reuters)

The pundits continue to battle on the wisdom of having the Iraqi elections on time. While they still prepare the world for the cries of "illegitimate" results, Iraqis in Baghdad... the hotbed center of terrorist assaults... still show determination to brave the bombs and risks to cast their ballot in the first free election in decades.

Two-thirds of registered voters in the Iraqi capital say they will cast their ballots in the Jan. 30 election despite the threat of violence, an independent Iraqi newspaper survey found Monday.

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The survey in the al-Mada newspaper, one of Iraq's most respected dailies, was conducted last week in eight main districts of Baghdad, one of the cities where insurgents are expected to launch attacks.

Based on a sample of 300 people, it found 67 percent of Baghdadis planned to vote. Twenty-five percent said they would not take part and nine percent were undecided.

In the Shi'a areas, that percentage goes up to 71%. The survey also found that only 23% of Baghdad residents wanted a delay in the elections.

The Sunni minority, finding it hard to give up their death grip on control over the rest of the country, says only 24% of their population plans to vote. Then again, if I were a Sunni, I probably wouldn't be advertising my plans to head to the polls since that's akin to wearing a large bullseye on my shirt. I suggest that we will have to wait until after election day to see the truths of Sunni participation.

Interestingly enough, the last election Saddam threw for the world's benefit had the same ol' Sunni bad guys intimidating voters. This election is no different for intimidation tactics, but adds the increased threat from foreign jihadists to the mix.

But the undeniable difference now is a counterforce to the oppression that didn't exist in Saddam's elections. The presence of the US Coalition and Iraqi forces, bent on thwarting the terrorists' success of violence at the polls, is a new entry into Iraqi elections. Intimidation they have seen before. But support in fighting that intimidation is brand new. And this may comfort many as they brave their paths to polling booths.

On the overall numbers, getting 67% of any population out to vote is quite the accomplishment - especially when compared to American election standards. And, as Ollie North points out on the talking head circuit, Americans will stay home if it's raining. But the Iraqis will walk miles and risk their lives to take part in the election that signals their determination to take control of their own country after decades of oppression.