Iraqi police seize forged ballots from Iran on eve of parliamentary elections News
Iraqi police seize forged ballots from Iran on eve of parliamentary elections

[JURIST] Iraqi border police seized a tanker Tuesday evening that had just crossed the border with Iran which contained several thousand forged ballots. According to an Iraqi official, the truck driver told police that at least three other trucks had successfully crossed the border into Iraq, but the official did not say what the driver meant to do with the partially completed ballots. The seizure comes as the country prepares for nationwide parliamentary elections [JURIST news archive] Thursday though early voting is already underway for some groups. Over 11,000 detainees held by US forces around the country voted earlier this week in what US officials are calling an overwhelming turnout [press release; Stars and Stripes report]. The Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq [official website] set up and monitored temporary polling stations in detention facilities which hold 100 or more eligible voters. Voting has also begun for soldiers, hospital patients and Iraqis abroad. The New York Times has more.